FBI Director Kash Patel said Monday night that investigators recovered text messages in which the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk said he had “the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and he was going to do that.” Patel said the messages were discovered among multiple electronic devices seized from the suspect’s Utah residence and that of his alleged romantic partner.
Patel, appearing on Fox News’s Hannity with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, said investigators will review not only Discord chats but all communications tied to the suspect, identified by law enforcement as Tyler Robinson. "We are going to be interviewing scores of people, on not just these chats on Discord, but any communications that this individual had," Patel told host Sean Hannity.
Patel said agents had seized "computers, we’ve got laptops, gaming systems, cell phones" from the homes and that the material will be used to piece together Robinson’s actions and contacts in the days and weeks before the Sept. 10 shooting. When asked about motive, Patel cited words attributed to the suspect: "And when he was asked why, he said some hatred cannot be negotiated with."
Bondi said state prosecutors in Utah have jurisdiction and indicated they expect an indictment soon. "They will indict most likely tomorrow or this week, and they will indict him for first-degree murder," she told Hannity, adding that federal prosecutors will review the case for potential federal charges and coordinate with state authorities if they take action.
Bondi addressed the prospect of capital punishment under Utah law, saying it was "too soon right now, legally to say," but noting local officials, including the governor, had expressed interest in seeking the death penalty. Utah statutes allow capital punishment and still provide the firing squad as an execution method.
The shooting occurred Sept. 10 on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, where Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot. Local and federal investigators have since conducted searches, seized electronic devices and interviewed witnesses as part of an ongoing homicide investigation.
Patel and Bondi described the investigative focus as comprehensive, emphasizing digital communications as a central thread. Patel said the FBI will analyze not only chat histories on platforms like Discord but also any other electronic correspondence and will interview numerous individuals connected to the suspect. He declined to characterize additional evidence beyond stating what was found in the text exchanges.
Law enforcement at the scene and prosecutors will now proceed through state charging processes, while federal officials determine whether federal statutes could also apply. Bondi said federal prosecutors will "look to see if we have federal charges as well," and if so, they would work with Utah authorities to seek appropriate indictments.
Authorities have not publicly released a full timeline of the suspect’s movements before the shooting or further details about a possible partner mentioned by Patel. Police statements and court filings are expected in the coming days after Utah prosecutors review the investigative file and consider formal charges.
The case has drawn national attention given Kirk’s profile in conservative political circles and because of questions about online communications and potential premeditation. Investigators have so far described the probe as ongoing and have urged the public to await official disclosures through law enforcement and court proceedings.
State and federal prosecutors have statutory deadlines and procedural steps before charges are filed and will present evidence to a grand jury or seek a complaint in court as allowed by law. Patel and Bondi’s remarks set the expectation of imminent state action and a potential federal review as the investigation advances.