OREM, Utah (TNND) — The shooter in the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday has been arrested after being turned in by family members, according to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
“We got him,” Cox said. “On the evening of Sept. 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.”
Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, was identified by Cox as the suspect and stated that investigators interviewed a family member who said the suspect had become more political in recent years.
“The family member referenced a recent incident in which Robinson came to dinner prior to Sept. 10, and in that conversation with another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU,” Cox explained. “They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had.”
A probable cause affidavit reviewed by NBC News states Robinson was arrested on charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.
He has not been formally charged yet, but Cox said the state will be working on them in the coming days. Officials have three days to submit those documents in preparation for a preliminary court hearing, which is expected early next week.
Robinson is currently being held at the Utah County Jail without bail, according to CNN. The Justice Department is reportedly deciding whether to file federal charges in addition to state charges.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Robinson was taken into custody 33 hours after the deadly shooting, adding that the agency had received over 11,000 leads as of Friday morning.
Patel also delivered a heartfelt message to Kirk during the news conference.
Cox told reporters that it is believed Robinson acted alone in the shooting, “but the investigation is ongoing.”
“We do not at this time have any information that would lead to any additional arrests,” the governor said.
Kirk was shot in the neck on Wednesday in what police called a “targeted attack” as he allegedly discussed transgender shooters with a crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem. He co-founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA and was a close ally of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Graphic videos showed stunned attendees running away and screaming as Kirk reached up to touch his neck while blood gushed from the left side.
According to the FBI, a high-powered, bolt-action riflewas recovered in the woods near the scene. Surveillance footage showed the shooter jumping off the roof and fleeing.
Cox described the rifle as being found wrapped in a dark-colored towel in a wooded area, and read the engravings on three unfired casings. One said, “Hey, fascist! Catch!” with an up arrow, a right arrow and three down arrows, a second with the writing, “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao,” and the third saying, “If you read this, you are gay LMAO.”
An inscription on the fired casing said: “notices, bulges, OWO, what’s this?”
Cox said Robinson’s roommate showed investigators messages on Discord where Robinson talked about needing to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush, visually watching the area where the rifle was left, and referring to having left the rifle wrapped in a towel.
“The messages also refer to engraving bullets and a mention of a scope, and the rifle being unique. Messages from the contact Tyler also mentioned that he had changed outfits,” the governor noted.
When Robinson was encountered by investigators on Thursday, officials said he was wearing clothes “consistent” with what was seen in photos and video.
Utah State University said in a statement that Robinson attended the school for one semester in 2021.
Cox encouraged the public not to spread the gruesome video of Kirk’s murder on social media and called social media “a cancer on our society right now.”
Trump said early Friday morning, while appearing on “Fox &Friends,” that “with a high degree of certainty” the suspect was in custody. He added that “someone very close to him turned him in.”
“It was a minister, and the minister went to a friend – a minister who’s involved in law enforcement, by the way, and his good friend is a top US marshal, and they took it from there and then it was a father got involved,” he said.
The president called Kirk “the finest person” while saying he hopes the shooter gets the death penalty.
“Well, I hope — he’s going to be found guilty, I would imagine — and I hope he gets the death penalty,” Trump said. “What he did, Charlie Kirk, he was the finest person that he didn’t deserve this. He worked so hard and so well, everybody liked him.”
Cox signaled on Thursday that he would seek the death penalty for the shooter.
Vance expressed his gratitude on social media for Cox, Utah law enforcement, Patel and the FBI “for giving this case the time, resources, and hard work it deserved.”
“This is a big breakthrough, and everyone who helped–from the law enforcement professionals to the people giving tips–deserves our credit and gratitude,” the vice president wrote on X. “Say a prayer for Erika Kirk and those two beautiful babies. We took a big step this morning in getting justice for Charlie, and for his family. Thanks be to God for that.”
Vance and his wife, Usha, escorted Kirk’s casket and his family on Air Force Two from Utah to Arizona on Thursday. Details for a funeral have not been announced.
Turning Point USA said it was “profoundly grateful to the men and women of law enforcement who worked with such urgency, dedication, and courage to bring this person to justice.”
“Their commitment has brought an important step toward closure in this incredibly painful time,” the statement on X read.
Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, told reporters on Thursday that footwear impressions, a palm print, and forearm imprints found at the scene would be analyzed by the FBI.
Authorities were able to track the movements of the shooter, who arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m., according to Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason.
“We have tracked his movements onto the campus, through the stairwells, up to the roof, across the river to a shooting location,” Mason explained. “After the shooting, we were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled off of the campus into a neighborhood.”
Trump announced during his appearance at the 9/11 memorial event in New York City that he will posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S.
“Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,” Trump said. “We miss him greatly, yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on.”
