Suspect in Kirk assassination caught, identified as Tyler Robinson
Compiled from news service reports
The person suspected of assassinating Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University has been caught, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced on Friday as additional details about the shooting and ensuing manhunt continued to emerge.
In a news conference on Friday morning, Cox provided updates on the arrest and the investigation leading up to it. The suspect has been identified as Tyler Robinson, 22.
The suspect indicated to a family member that he was involved in the shooting, Cox said. The family member then reached out to a family friend, who contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with the information.
Cox said that interviews with a member of Robinson’s family revealed that Robinson had become more political in recent years.
“The family member referenced a recent incident where Robinson came to dinner … and [Robinson] mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU. They talked about why they didn’t like him, and the viewpoints that he had,” Cox said at the press conference on Friday.
The family member also said that “Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate,” in that conversation, Cox said.
The family member also allegedly confirmed key details for investigators, such as Robinson’s possession of a gray Dodge Challenger vehicle that was observed at the scene.
Cox also said that Robinson’s roommate told investigators about his use of social media platform “Discord,” where Robinson allegedly described handling a rifle, engraving bullets, and changing outfits.
Investigators found that Robinson exchanged messages on Discord that revealed details of the shooting, Cox said.
According to Cox, investigators saw messages sent to Robinson’s roommate, whose identity has not been revealed, including notes about the need to retrieve a rifle, and messages related to watching the area where the rifle was left, and other items left with it.
The messages also allegedly referenced engraved bullets and offered details about the uniqueness of the rifle’s scope. Cox said investigators discovered bullet casings in the weapon suspected to have been used in the assassination. The bullets were allegedly inscribed with messages.
The fired casing was marked, “Notices, bulges, OWO, what’s this?” he said.
Three unfired rounds found in the rifle were also allegedly inscribed.
One allegedly read, “Hey fascists! Catch!” It also had a drawn up arrow, a right arrow, and three down arrow symbols.
Another round allegedly read, “O bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,” seemingly referring to an Italian anti-fascist song from World War II.
And the last casing was allegedly inscribed with, “If you read this, you are gay LMAO.”
It is unclear how or when the markings were made.
The evidence was discovered north of the campus, near the road in a grassy area lined with trees, the governor said. The Mauser .30-06 bolt action rifle was wrapped in a dark colored towel.
In response to a question from a reporter at the press conference, Cox said he could not discuss a motive behind the assassination.
Cox: Shooter Changed Clothes While on the Roof
Cox said that the suspect changed clothes sometime between when he was first spotted on campus and when he left the roof from where he fired the fatal bullet. Cox said law enforcement believes Robinson changed clothes on the roof, and then changed back into the outfit he was wearing before he shot Kirk and was wearing at the time he was apprehended.
“The clothing matched the clothing he had on before the shooting here at [the university],” Cox said.
The FBI released video of the suspected shooter on Thursday. The video, posted to the FBI’s website, begins with an individual in dark clothing running dozens of feet across a roof overlooking the bowl-like area where Kirk was speaking. The FBI video can be seen at youtu.be/YrfHme9Yhc8?feature=shared.
Suspect Briefly Attended Utah State University
The suspect was not a student at Utah Valley University, Cox said. Robinson was living with his family in Washington County, in Utah’s southwest, about a three-and-a-half-hour drive to Utah Valley University, Cox said.
A spokesperson wrote in a statement that Robinson briefly attended Utah State University for one semester in 2021. Robinson, said the spokesperson for Utah Valley University, is a junior in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College.
He also “received concurrent enrollment credit through Utah Tech University while in high school” between 2019 and 2021, according to the spokesperson.
Steven Dunham, director of communications for Washington County School District, confirmed that Robinson was enrolled in that school district from 2008 until 2021, when he graduated from high school.
Charging Documents Expected Next Week
Cox told reporters during the press conference that charging documents are expected early next week.
“We’ll have more detailed information then … in preparation for a preliminary hearing,” Cox said.
“The county attorney will be working very closely with the Kirk family as those charging documents and decisions are prepared and made.”
State law allows three days for officials to gather evidence and file charges while the suspect is in custody.
Robinson was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a weapon causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice – all felony charges.
The aggravated murder charge carries the possibility of the death penalty.
Robinson has no prior criminal history, according to state and federal records.
Authorities believe Robinson did not have any accomplices.
“We do not at this time have any information that would lead to additional arrests,” Cox said at the press conference.
When asked whether Robinson acted alone, Cox said, “Yes, but the investigation is ongoing.”
Cox: Assassination Was ‘Attack on American Experiment’
Cox described the assassination of Charlie Kirk as a threat to democracy and the American way of life.
“It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment,” Cox said during the press conference. “It is an attack on our ideals.”
Cox added that a nation built on the notion of free speech is endangered by political violence that dampens the spirit of the country.
“This cuts to the very foundation of who we are, of who we have been, and who we could be in better times,” Cox said. “Political violence is different than any other type of violence for lots of different reasons. One, because in the very act that Charlie championed of expression, that freedom of expression that is enshrined in our founding documents, in having his life taken in that very act, makes it more difficult for people to feel like they can share their ideas, that they can speak freely.”
The governor called for a commitment to open dialogue and peaceful interactions.
“We will never be able to solve all the other problems, including the violence problems that people are worried about, if we can’t have a clash of ideas safely and securely, especially those ideas with which you disagree,” Cox said.
“That’s why this matters so much.”
Arjun Singh, Travis Gillmore, Savannah Hulsey Pointer and Jackson Richman contributed to this report.
