A 22-year-old, Tyler Robinson, suspected of shooting Trump ally and conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has been arrested. Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed the development during a press conference. “We got him. On the evening of September 11, a family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident,” Cox said during the news conference alongside FBI Chief Kash Patel. Patel, later, confirmed that Robinson was taken into custody at 10 pm local time on Thursday, September 11. Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while addressing a campus event at Utah Valley University.
Who is Tyler Robinson?
Authorities said they have strong evidence linking the suspect to the killing, including his statements to relatives, social media messages, and physical evidence. Utah State University confirmed that the suspect studied there for one semester in 2021 as a pre-engineering major.
The suspect was taken into custody at 11 p.m. local time on Thursday night by Utah state and local police. He was arrested near his home in the southwest part of the state near Zion National Park. Utah Governor Cox said investigators spoke with one of Robinson’s relatives. The relative said Robinson had become more political in recent years.
What Family Members said
The family member also remembered a dinner conversation before September 10. During that dinner, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk’s upcoming visit to Utah Valley University. At that time, another family member commented that Kirk was “full of hate and spreading hate.” Officials revealed that the gun used to kill Charlie Kirk carried chilling messages on its casings and cartridges. One casing was inscribed with the words “Bella ciao” — a famous Italian song tied to the antifascist resistance during World War II, still sung today by the Italian left to remember the fall of fascism. Another cartridge carried an engraving that read, “Hey, fascist! Catch!” which Utah Governor Spencer Cox said made the shooter’s intent disturbingly clear.
Latest on Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
Charlie Kirk was shot dead on Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University. The 31-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital after a shot to the neck and succumbed to his injury. A massive manhunt has been under to catch the perpetrator. FBI, leading the investigation, has interviewed and let go two persons of interest. Photos of the possible suspect were recently released by the FBI, which is also offering $100,000 to anyone who gives information “leading to the identification and arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk.”
Video Shows Tyler Robinson
A video released on Thursday night showed a man walking on the roof of a building at Utah Valley University, where the fatal shot was fired. He then climbed down, jumped to the ground, and ran into a nearby wooded area. Investigators later found a high-powered bolt-action rifle, which they believe was the weapon used in the attack.
The suspect came to campus in a Dodge Challenger. He was wearing a plain maroon T-shirt, light shorts, a black hat with a white logo, and light shoes. Officials said he looked like a student because of his age and appearance, which helped him blend in.
