WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah — Tyler Robinson, 22, the man accused of shooting conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on the campus of Utah Valley University, surrendered to police Thursday after a plan for a peaceful surrender was arranged amid a broader manhunt, authorities said.
A former law enforcement colleague called Sheriff Nate Brooksby at 8:02 p.m. local time to relay that Robinson was in Washington County and willing to come in voluntarily. Brooksby said the information came as investigators pressed to locate the suspect and secure a voluntary surrender. Robinson’s surrender was negotiated with the understanding that he would not be harmed and would be allowed to turn himself in peacefully.
Robinson had reported suicidal thoughts earlier, according to the sheriff, but his parents persuaded him not to harm himself. Brooksby said Robinson was afraid of a SWAT raid on his home and of being shot by police, a fear he acknowledged during the late-night call. “Tyler knew it was just inevitable with all the law enforcement pressure that he, his picture in the news, the gun on the news, was going to be front and center,” Brooksby said. “He knew it was inevitable that he would be caught.” The caller told Brooksby that Robinson was en route to a remote part of Washington County and that his parents would stand by him and help him surrender.
During the call, the deputy described Robinson’s voice as shaky and unsettled. Brooksby said the information was relayed by a former colleague who has ties to Robinson’s family and that the parents offered to help their son turn himself in safely. Robinson requested a peaceful, gentle surrender, and Brooksby agreed to pursue that approach in hopes of avoiding a confrontation. The sheriff later added that Robinson’s motive and mental state would be examined as part of the investigation, but he did not provide a clear motive beyond the suspect’s apparent fear of the consequences of the manhunt.
Robinson was described as quiet and somber when he was taken into custody. Brooksby said the arrest team did not question him while lead investigators were en route to the scene. He also noted that Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, is described as transgender and was said to be in a “safe space very far away from St. George,” the Utah town where the two lived. The sheriff said outside law enforcement officials were coordinating with Twiggs’ associates, but he did not elaborate on any ongoing protection or investigation related to Twiggs.
The sheriff also corrected an earlier rumor about a Washington County Sheriff’s deputy with the last name Robinson being related to the shooter. Brooksby said the deputy is not related and urged the media to avoid conflating the two individuals, who have been subject to online harassment.
Robinson’s family and acquaintances have painted a troubling picture of the suspect in discussions with media outlets. A relative who spoke to Fox News Digital said Robinson’s transgender partner lived in a townhouse with him for about a year. In that account, the relative described the suspect as someone who had become alienated from conservatives and Christians and who had “hated” them for reasons not fully understood. The relative added that Robinson had become “detached” and “radicalized” in recent years, with anger increasingly evident.
Law enforcement officials described a coordinated response to the shooting at Utah Valley University, where Kirk, a prominent conservative figure, was hosting the first stop of his The American Comeback tour. Authorities say Kirk was shot after Robinson climbed onto the roof of the Losee Center and fired a single round from a rifle, striking Kirk in the neck. Kirk was pronounced dead a short time later, triggering condolences from across the political spectrum and renewed debate about safety on college campuses.
Robinson now faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and a commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. Prosecutors have not publicly released any potential motive beyond the information gathered during the investigation and statements from those connected to Robinson’s circle. The case remains under active investigation as authorities piece together the sequence of events that led to the shooting and the subsequent surrender.
Authorities note that the investigation continues to involve interactions with individuals connected to Robinson’s social circle and potential associates. As the case moves forward, prosecutors will determine whether to pursue additional charges or seek enhanced penalties based on the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the surrender.
Kirk’s death has prompted discussions about the risks of political rhetoric and the impact of fame on public figures, though investigators have emphasized that the focus remains on securing justice in this case and ensuring campus safety. The university community and Kirk’s supporters will be watching closely as the legal process unfolds and more details become publicly available about the shooting, the suspect’s state of mind, and the broader implications for campus security and law enforcement responses to violent incidents on college campuses.
