Questions have intensified over whether the father of the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk claimed a more than $1 million reward after turning in his son, as the suspect is due to make an initial court appearance.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested after the Sept. 10 shooting at Utah Valley University that left Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk dead. Prosecutors in Utah County said they plan to file capital murder charges that could carry the death penalty, and Robinson is scheduled to appear by video in court. Authorities have said Robinson has been held without bail since his arrest and it is unclear whether he has retained counsel.
Federal and private rewards were offered as investigators searched for the gunman. The FBI announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, and billionaire investor Bill Ackman pledged an additional $1,000,000. Ackman said on X that the pledged funds would be paid "to whomever the FBI indicates provided the information that led to Tyler's arrest," and he added caveats saying any family member found to have been involved in the killing could face civil or criminal consequences and that he had seen reports the family might waive rights to any reward.
Law enforcement sources say Robinson was located late Thursday in southern Utah after allegedly confessing to his father, Matt Robinson, who then contacted authorities and secured his son before officers took custody. That sequence prompted questions in some news reports and public commentary about whether Matt Robinson sought or received the reward for providing information that led to his son's arrest; officials have not publicly confirmed a payment or whether the family would accept a reward.
FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News investigators recovered a text exchange in which the suspect "specifically stated he had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and he was gonna do that." Patel also said the agency is investigating at least dozens of users tied to an online chat group that has been linked in media reports to the suspect. The messaging platform Discord has disputed claims that its service was used to plan the attack, according to statements from the company.
Patel said investigators found what he described as a justification for the attack in Robinson's communications, including a post purportedly stating "some hatred cannot be negotiated with." Authorities have said Robinson held what they described as a "leftist ideology" and that investigators are exploring whether he was radicalized online.
Surveillance footage captured by neighborhood homeowners showed a man believed to be the suspect walking near the university just before the shooting and again after the attack. A homeowner who spoke to ABC4 on condition of anonymity described first noticing a limp when reviewing the footage and said the family turned over the video to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which passed it to the FBI and the state bureau of investigation.
The case has drawn national attention and reactions across politics and entertainment. An Illinois television anchor, Beni Rae Harmony, said she resigned from her station after a tearful on-air tribute to Kirk, whom she identified as a former employer. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis on a podcast described being moved to tears and called Kirk a man of faith. Those responses illustrate the wide public reaction to the killing and the polarizing profile of the victim, a prominent conservative organizer credited with energizing Republican youth and playing a role in Donald Trump's 2024 presidential victory.
Local prosecutors said they are considering aggravated murder charges, which in Utah can make a defendant eligible for capital punishment; state statutes provide for methods of execution defined by law. It remained unclear on Tuesday whether prosecutors would seek the death penalty in this case, or which specific counts would be filed when Robinson appears in court.
Federal investigators said they are probing the online group allegedly linked to Robinson and have interviewed and are interrogating people connected to the chat. The FBI director described the inquiry as far-reaching; he declined to provide details on the number of people being questioned beyond saying it was more than two dozen. Discord has told reporters it did not find evidence the platform was used to plot the attack in advance.
Ackman urged that rewards be paid if the FBI determines the information was decisive, saying on X that effective rewards must be paid even if the recipient is unsavory. He also warned that any unlawful involvement by a reward recipient could lead to litigation or prosecution and reiterated that he had seen reports the family intended to waive its right to any reward. The FBI has not publicly announced whether it has identified a reward recipient or whether any payment has been made.
Investigators continue to gather evidence, interview witnesses and review digital communications as they prepare charging documents. The next steps in the case include the virtual court appearance, formal filing of charges by prosecutors, and further federal and state inquiries into online activity connected to the accused. The investigation is being closely watched for what it may reveal about the role of online networks in political violence and for details about how the suspect was located and turned over to authorities.
