The FBI is investigating whether the man accused of killing conservative commentator Charlie Kirk had an accomplice after newly surfaced footage showed a suspicious figure near the scene, officials and media reports said Friday.
The footage, which university officials turned over to investigators, appears to show a person speaking into a doorbell camera shortly after the shooting, according to reports. Federal agents are examining the images to determine whether the figure is linked to 22‑year‑old Tyler Robinson, who was arrested Thursday night and is charged in the fatal attack.
Investigators have not publicly confirmed the identity of the person in the video and have repeatedly said they believe Robinson acted alone. Authorities said they are pursuing multiple lines of inquiry, and that at least one family living near the Utah Valley University (UVU) campus has been interviewed as part of the probe.
Police evacuated the area around Robinson's family home after receiving what they described as "concerning information" originating from directly in front of the residence, officials said. A law enforcement helicopter monitored the neighborhood, and reporters were asked to clear the area as investigators worked, according to local media.
Robinson, who police say fired a single, fatal shot, was arrested around 11 p.m. local time in southern Utah, roughly 260 miles from the Orem campus where the shooting occurred. He was booked on charges that include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by NBC News. Authorities told reporters Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox, speaking at a news conference after the arrest, said investigators learned from Robinson's family that the suspect had become more political in recent years and had expressed dislike for Kirk. "We got him," Cox said, adding that Robinson had described Kirk to family members as "full of hate." Cox also said casings recovered from the scene bore engraved messages, which he described as anti‑fascist references and other markings.
Authorities said a roommate aided investigators by showing messages on the online platform Discord in which the suspect discussed retrieving a rifle from a drop point, leaving the weapon in a bush, and referenced engraved bullets and a scope. Social media photos associated with Robinson's family show the suspect around firearms as a youth, officials said.
Robinson is reported to be a student in an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George and previously attended Utah State University for one semester in 2021. Public records reviewed by media outlets indicate he was not registered with a political party and did not vote in the November presidential election. Online records also show both of his parents are registered Republicans; his mother is employed by a company that helps disabled people obtain care, media reports said.
Investigators had released surveillance footage during the manhunt showing a figure on a rooftop near the Losee Center at UVU moments before Kirk was shot, and later leaping from the roof and running into a nearby neighborhood. The conservative commentator was struck by a single bullet while speaking at an outdoor campus event and later died at a hospital. Video of the attack captured chaos as attendees fled and others scrambled to help.
The arrest came after a day‑and‑a‑half manhunt in which at least one other person initially taken into custody was later released, the FBI said. "The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement, and the agency said the investigation continued.
The FBI had offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. President Donald Trump led tributes to Kirk on social media and ordered American flags lowered to half‑staff until Sunday evening in the commentator's honor.
Authorities have declined to discuss some investigative details publicly. When contacted by the Daily Mail, the FBI declined to comment about the new footage, and law enforcement officials have emphasized that their work to determine motive, potential collaborators and the full sequence of events remains ongoing.
Kirk, 31, a frequent campus speaker known for his conservative activism, is survived by his wife and two young children, who officials said were with him at the event. The shooting has prompted vigils and widespread debate over political violence, and state and federal investigators said they are coordinating to complete forensic examinations and review digital evidence as part of the continuing probe.
Officials urged anyone with information about the case or the footage to contact law enforcement as the investigation proceeds. More details are expected as agents analyze the footage, interview witnesses and disclose findings in the coming days.