Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested late Friday after a two-day manhunt for the suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and former president Donald Trump said he hoped Robinson would receive the death penalty.
Authorities say Robinson was identified and turned in by his father, who recognized him from images released by the FBI and extracted a confession. Robinson was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals at about 10 p.m. local time at a home in Washington, in southern Utah, where officials said he was "very compliant" during the arrest.
Robinson is expected to be charged with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice (capital/first-degree felony conduct) and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, according to law enforcement sources. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said state authorities will seek the death penalty; Utah is among the states that authorize capital punishment and allows execution by firing squad as well as lethal injection.
Investigators said Robinson arrived at Utah Valley University in a gray Dodge Challenger at 8:29 a.m. local time on Wednesday, climbed onto the roof of the Losee Center, changed clothes, and then fired a single shot with a bolt-action Mauser .30-06 rifle equipped with a scope at about 12:23 p.m. The bullet struck Kirk in the neck during an outdoor event in front of an audience of roughly 3,000 people. Kirk, 31, a father of two and founder of Turning Point USA, was pronounced dead about two hours later.
Officials said the rifle was later found wrapped in a dark towel and left in nearby woods. Investigators recovered bullet casings engraved with messages, including one reading, "Hey, fascist, catch!" another bearing lyrics from the partisan song "Bella Ciao," and a third unfired bullet with the words, "If you read this, you are gay LMAO," the FBI said.
Utah officials described a 33-hour search that spanned multiple states. FBI Director Kash Patel said Robinson had been "on the run for 33 hours" before his arrest and praised the investigatory work that led to his capture. Public safety commissioner Beau Mason said detectives located and peacefully arrested Robinson after the father's tip and subsequent outreach to local law enforcement.
Authorities released surveillance images showing a man wearing dark sunglasses, a baseball cap and a black shirt with an American flag bearing the phrase "Land of the Free.... Home of the Brave." Cox said Robinson was wearing the same clothing when interviewed after his arrest. Footage circulated online showed a man sprinting across the Losee Center roof just before the shooting and then jumping down and fleeing across campus.
Officials also cited online messages and social-media posts in their account of the events. Investigators said a former roommate produced messages posted under the name "Tyler" on the app Discord that discussed retrieving a rifle from a drop point, leaving it in a bush, engraving bullets and changing clothes during the operation; those messages, according to the governor, placed someone watching the site where the Mauser was recovered. Discord disputed some of the material the FBI and Utah officials described.
Robinson's family told police he had become "more political" in recent years, and some family members noted his familiarity with firearms. His grandmother told a news outlet that he had grown up in a Republican household and had been a quiet child who did not discuss politics with her. Social media images circulated by authorities show the suspect posing with high-caliber weapons.
Cox said investigators also interviewed a relative who told them Robinson had expressed dislike for Kirk and had referred to the activist's planned visit to the university as a source of grievance. Authorities have not announced a definitive motive.
Two people initially detained in the chaotic aftermath of the shooting were later released when investigators determined they were not involved, officials said.
Trump commented on the case during a live television appearance, saying, "He’s going to be found guilty I imagine. And I hope he gets the death penalty," and criticizing the pace of U.S. courts by comparing them to other countries. Trump described Kirk as "the finest person" and said he planned to attend the funeral.
Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA and built a large online following with confrontational campus debates, was a prominent voice among conservative-leaning youth and an outspoken supporter of Trump. He courted controversy in the past for remarks on gender roles and race.
Local and federal authorities said they will continue to develop the case, and court filings are expected to be filed in the coming days as the investigation proceeds. Prosecutors will decide whether to pursue capital charges in the case as part of the next stages of the legal process.