Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a public event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, and a 22-year-old man was arrested the following day, authorities said. Investigators have recovered a rifle and examined evidence including cartridge casings with inscriptions as they seek to determine motive.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested Sept. 11 and has been charged in the shooting, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said. The shooting occurred during a "Prove Me Wrong" debate at the university, where Kirk was addressing audience questions when he was struck by gunfire. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Law enforcement officials described recovering a Mauser bolt-action rifle with a scope near the scene, along with one spent cartridge and three live rounds, according to a report released by the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators reported inscriptions on the casings; the office described one fired casing bearing the phrase "Notices Buldge OWO what's this?" and three unfired casings reading, in part, "hey fascist! CATCH!"; "O Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Ciao, ciao!"; and "if you read This, you are GAY Lmao," the report said.
Officials have not publicly confirmed a motive. Police said the investigation remains active and that they are reviewing physical evidence, social media material and witness statements. The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment on investigators' findings or on the inscriptions.
Media coverage and social media accounts cited by local and national outlets have identified a person who lived with Robinson as Lance Twiggs, 22, and described Twiggs as transgender. The New York Post and other outlets have published images and posts attributed to that account. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the identity of anyone residing with the suspect or the nature of their relationship.
Kirk, 31, was a prominent conservative commentator and activist who founded Turning Point USA, a group that organizes on college campuses. He had been a frequent critic of transgender policies and of what he described as efforts to expand gender-affirming care and related policies. In public remarks and interviews in recent years, Kirk had advocated legal and policy action on issues related to transgender healthcare and youth sports.
The shooting and the details emerging from the investigation have prompted national attention and renewed debate over political rhetoric, public safety at campus events and the role of social media in violent incidents. Lawmakers and commentators across the political spectrum have called for a measured investigation and for public officials to avoid premature conclusions about motive, according to media reports.
Authorities say they are also examining online posts and other digital evidence. Some social media material cited in news reports includes references to political slogans and cultural memes. One of the inscriptions investigators noted references an Italian folk song, which has been used historically in a range of political contexts, including anti-fascist movements; other inscriptions include direct admonitions toward "fascists," according to the sheriff’s report.
Legal experts noted that inscriptions or social media posts may figure in investigators' efforts to establish motive but stressed that investigators must corroborate such material with other evidence before drawing conclusions. The process of building a criminal case includes forensic testing of recovered items, reviewing electronic communications and establishing timelines, experts said.
The FBI has in past years maintained that political violence can stem from a range of ideologies and personal grievances, and federal authorities frequently assist local agencies in investigations that may involve interstate issues or potential civil rights violations. Local officials in Utah said they were coordinating with federal partners, but they have not disclosed the full scope of federal involvement.
Kirk’s death has drawn condemnation from public officials and leaders across multiple parties, who described the shooting as a tragic act of violence and urged patience as investigators pursue the facts. Campus officials at Utah Valley University said they were cooperating with law enforcement and that the university would review security protocols for public events.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities asked anyone with information or video of the event to contact the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors must still decide whether to bring additional charges beyond the homicide charge filed against Robinson as evidence is developed and reviewed.
As inquiries continue, the case has heightened discussion in Washington and on college campuses about the safety of public forums, the responsibilities of platforms and media in reporting on violent incidents, and the legal boundaries of political speech. Officials emphasized that establishing motive requires careful evidence-based work and that public commentary should not interfere with the investigative process.