Oregon football coach Dan Lanning used his postgame remarks Saturday to condemn the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and to say the culture he has built in the Ducks’ locker room offers lessons for the country.
Lanning, 39, offered condolences to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their two children after Oregon’s 34-14 victory over Northwestern and said he had recently learned that Kirk was a fan of the team. "You walk in that locker room, you've got guys of different races, guys of different backgrounds, different religions, and you got a team that loves each other," Lanning said. "Tons of differences. Where they come from, what they deal with, and ultimately you've got a team that loves each other, and I think we're missing some of that in our country."
Lanning called Kirk’s assassination in Utah "evil" and said such violence "should never exist" in America. He said he had to explain the killing to his own children and lamented a national pattern of shootings, referencing other recent attacks that have affected schools and houses of worship.
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the fatal shooting of Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Police arrested 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson of Washington, Utah, on suspicion of aggravated murder and other felony offenses. Prosecutors were preparing formal charges that could be filed early next week, when Robinson is expected to make his first court appearance.
Investigators have executed a search warrant at Robinson’s family home, about 240 miles southwest of the college where the shooting occurred, and have interviewed relatives. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said family members told authorities that Robinson "had become more political in recent years" and recounted a dinner-table conversation in which the topic of Kirk’s campus appearance and whether he was "spreading hate" was discussed.
State voter records show Robinson is registered but listed as inactive, indicating he did not vote in recent general elections; his parents are registered Republicans. Ammunition recovered with the weapon used in the killing was engraved with taunting, anti-fascist and meme-culture messages. One bullet casing reportedly bore the message, "Hey, fascist! Catch!"
Screenshots and messages reported by multiple outlets show Robinson mocking the manhunt and the FBI’s investigation, and joking about obtaining reward money, before ultimately surrendering to authorities. In one exchange shared by a former high school classmate, a user joked, "Tyler killed Charlie!!!!" and Robinson replied, "My doppelganger's trying to get me in trouble." Authorities said the messages reflected a lack of remorse during the period after the shooting.
Turning Point USA, the conservative organization Kirk founded, plans a memorial for him Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Kirk’s casket arrived Thursday in his home state aboard Air Force Two and was accompanied by Vice President J.D. Vance. In a livestreamed message, Erika Kirk said the movement her husband built "will not die" and vowed to continue his campus tour and media work.
Lanning, who has been outspoken about gun violence, framed his remarks at the football stadium as an appeal to common humanity. He said his locker room demonstrates an ability for people of diverse backgrounds to unite around shared work and mutual care and urged that elements of that culture be applied more broadly in a country confronting frequent acts of mass and targeted violence.
Investigators continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses in the case as prosecutors prepare formal charges. Officials cautioned that the investigation into motive and the full circumstances of the attack remains ongoing.