A 38-year-old man was arrested after investigators say he slipped past crime-scene tape at Utah Valley University and photographed the site where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed.
Russell Kim Kennington was taken into custody Thursday after detectives say he crossed two lines of yellow tape and began taking pictures and videos of evidence shortly after the shooting Wednesday, according to an affidavit reviewed by local media. Officers approached Kennington, who they allege fled toward a nearby academic building when ordered to identify himself; he was apprehended after a short pursuit and booked into the Utah County Jail on suspicion of capital obstruction of justice and criminal trespass.
According to the affidavit, Kennington admitted to investigators that he had been "reminiscing and filming the scene" and told officers he entered the taped-off area by "following the shadows" to avoid disturbing investigators. Police said they found a selfie of Kennington taken at the scene on his cellphone. It was not immediately clear whether he has posted bail; the jail's online inmate database did not list a record for him as of Friday.
Authorities stressed that Kennington was not connected to the shooting itself. A post on a Facebook page believed to belong to Kennington said, "UVU has the tightest security. We are safe thank you to all those that helped us out," a message reviewed by a national tabloid said. Friends and followers responded with messages of support for him and the campus community.
Kirk, 31, a conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday while speaking at an event on the Orem, Utah, campus. State and federal officials described the slaying as a political assassination and said they had arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson on suspicion of capital murder, weapons offenses and obstruction. Authorities say they believe Robinson acted alone, but officials cautioned the investigation remained active and evidence was still being processed.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said investigators had recovered bullet casings engraved with phrases, including one that said, "Hey, fascist! Catch!" Cox also described chat messages attributed to the suspect that were shared with law enforcement by a roommate. The roommate provided messages from the Discord app, the governor said, that referenced a rifle wrapped in a towel, engraved bullets and a scope.
Investigators recovered a Mauser .30-caliber bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel in a wooded area along the path authorities say the suspect took after firing from a distant roof, the governor and police said. Surveillance video and witness statements were used to place the suspect at the scene; officials said clothing worn by the suspect when confronted by law enforcement matched what he had on when he arrived on campus a day earlier and that a family member identified a grey Dodge Challenger seen in surveillance footage as the vehicle he drove to the university.
Authorities said Robinson had shown a longstanding interest in firearms and had posted images in the past posing with weapons. According to investigators, Robinson's father recognized his son in photographs released by the FBI, contacted him and urged him to turn himself in. A law enforcement official said Robinson initially refused but later surrendered after his father reached out to a youth pastor who in turn contacted the U.S. Marshals Service.
Robinson's arrest late Thursday followed more than a day of intense searching and public appeals for tips as investigators worked to piece together motive, movements and materials used in the attack. Officials said they expected to file formal charges early next week and that additional evidence and witness interviews could inform further steps in the probe.
The killing drew national attention because of Kirk's prominence in conservative political circles and his ties to high-profile figures. The case has also renewed scrutiny of politically motivated violence across the ideological spectrum, with federal and state authorities emphasizing they will pursue all leads as they build their case.
Prosecutors and law enforcement officials have not yet released a comprehensive timeline of the shooting and subsequent movements of the suspect, and they cautioned that some details, including any motive, remain under investigation. Court filings and public statements by investigating agencies are expected to provide additional information as the case moves toward formal charges and a first appearance in court.