() Local law enforcement leaders took a moment Saturday to reflect on the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and the subsequent 33-hour investigation that yielded a suspect.

“For 33 hours, it was no sleep and go to work,” Utah County Under Sheriff Shaun Bufton said of the multi-agency response. “From hour one, or minute one, it was so impressive. In probably 15 minutes, there’s 300 cops here guys, gals, leaving the gym in their gym clothes, they’re with their families, off-duty. They jump in their vehicles, and they get here, they throw their battle gear on, and they go to work.”

Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking on the UVU campus Wednesday during an appearance in which he planned to debate people who disagreed with his conservative views. Shortly after noon, a sniper fired a single shot from a roof 200 yards away and fatally wounded Kirk, who toppled backward in his chair. He was pronounced dead after being rushed to a hospital.

Local and state authorities began working with the FBI, which erroneously announced that a suspect had been quickly apprehended. In fact, that person of interest was released after being interviewed. The investigation picked up steam Thursday, when the first surveillance images of an actual suspect were released, showing a thin man with dark hair.

FBI Director Kash Patel, who has been criticized for his agency’s handling of the case, on Saturday took credit for releasing images of the suspect to the public. The father of the alleged killer ultimately turned him in, Patel said.

“I would have to imagine, for me, that would be the worst day of my life,” Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith told ’s Brian Entin Saturday at the UVU campus, where a memorial to Kirk drew supporters. “The father absolutely did the right thing.”

The jailed suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, is expected to be formally charged next week, according to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who called Kirk’s murder a political assassination.