A man arrested in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk allegedly told a small online chat that he was responsible for the killing shortly before turning himself in, authorities and officials said.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was taken into custody late Thursday following a 33-hour manhunt after Kirk was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, police and federal officials said. Local and federal investigators allege Robinson sent a message in a Discord group saying, "Hey guys, I have bad news for you all," followed by, "It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this," according to an account of the message released by authorities.
FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators linked DNA recovered on a towel wrapped around a rifle found near the scene to Robinson, and that DNA also connected him to a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where authorities believe the fatal shot was fired. Patel told Fox News that agents were able to recover the contents of a note Robinson wrote before the shooting — a passage indicating he had an opportunity to "take out" Kirk and intended to do so — though he did not disclose the full text.
Robinson was booked on suspicion of aggravated murder and is being held in a Utah jail, where he is expected to face capital murder charges that can carry the death penalty in Utah. Governor Spencer Cox said the suspect's family assisted in the investigation. Authorities said Robinson has not been cooperating with investigators.
Investigators said the suspected gunman used a high-powered hunting-style rifle to shoot Kirk in the neck with a single round while the conservative activist was speaking at the university. Local officials released surveillance images of a person of interest during the manhunt and said the alleged weapon was later recovered in a wooded area near the campus. Two people were detained and then released during the search, officials said.
Details about markings on unused cartridges recovered from the weapon drew attention. Utah officials said one cartridge bore the words "Hey, fascist! Catch!" and another was labeled with the phrase "Bella ciao," an Italian anti-fascist song from World War II that reports say has been used recently in some online circles. Other cartridges reportedly bore symbols and wording associated with online gaming culture. Cox said the markings were found on unused casings and that investigators were examining their significance.
Police and local officials described Robinson as a young man from St. George, Utah, who was in the third year of an electrician apprenticeship. Photographs circulating online showed Robinson posing with firearms and wearing a Halloween costume that, according to reports, depicted him appearing to ride on former President Donald Trump's shoulders. Officials and acquaintances provided varied accounts of his beliefs: some family members and friends said he spent significant time in "dark corners of the internet," while law enforcement officials said he had adopted a left-leaning ideology in recent years. Authorities said he lived with a transgender partner who is cooperating with investigators and is not linked to the killing.
Discord, the messaging platform where the alleged confession was posted, is cooperating with the FBI and local authorities, officials said. The platform previously said its own internal review found no evidence that the suspect had planned the attack or promoted violence on Discord.
Kirk, 31, a co-founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative commentator, drew a national outpouring of grief after the killing. Tributes and vigils were held around the country, including a gathering at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Kirk is survived by his wife and two young children.
Turning Point USA, founded in 2012 to promote conservative views among young people, made Kirk a frequent television and digital commentator. His supporters and colleagues have called for a thorough investigation into the attack, and officials have urged caution while authorities piece together motive and planning.
The FBI and local law enforcement said they will continue their investigation into the events surrounding the shooting, including the suspect's online activity and possible motives. Robinson is due to appear in court on Tuesday and faces state-level capital charges. Utah law allows capital punishment for certain crimes, and state authorities have said prosecutors are likely to pursue the most serious charges available.
Officials cautioned that the investigation remains active and that public details available so far are based on evidence collected in the immediate aftermath of the killing. Investigators have asked anyone with additional information, including witnesses or those who may have seen suspicious activity near the university, to contact local law enforcement or the FBI as the case moves forward.