Tyler Robinson, 22, has been identified as the suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University, Utah officials said Friday. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and investigators said Robinson was taken into custody after a family member provided information to authorities that included an admission or implication of responsibility.
"We got him on the evening of Sept. 11," Cox said at a news briefing. The governor said a family member of Robinson reached out to a family friend who then contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office, prompting a multiagency investigation that included local law enforcement, Utah Valley University investigators and the FBI.
Investigators said surveillance video showed a gray Dodge Challenger arriving at the UVU campus at about 8:29 a.m. on Sept. 10, shortly before the shooting. Cox described the person in the video as wearing a plain maroon T-shirt, light-colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo and light-colored shoes. Authorities said a family member later confirmed Robinson owned a vehicle matching that description.
A rifle was recovered north of UVU’s Campus Drive Road wrapped in a dark towel, Cox said. The weapon was identified as a Mauser Model 98 .36 caliber bolt-action rifle with a scope mounted on it. Investigators also noted inscriptions on casings found with the rifle, the governor said.
Cox said investigators interviewed Robinson’s roommate and family members as part of the inquiry. Authorities said messages viewed by investigators and described at the briefing included references to retrieving a rifle from a drop point, monitoring the area where a rifle was left, engraving bullets and leaving a rifle wrapped in a towel. Family members told investigators that Robinson had "become more political in recent years," Cox said, and recalled a dinner conversation in which Robinson mentioned that Kirk was scheduled to appear at UVU and criticized Kirk’s views.
Robinson lived in Washington County, Utah. Publicly available social media posts viewed by Fox News Digital, now deleted, showed ordinary life events such as family milestones, birthdays and school activities. Steven Dunham, director of communications for the Washington County School District, confirmed Robinson attended district schools from 2008 through May 2021, including Pine View Middle School and Pine View High School.
Utah State University confirmed Robinson briefly attended the school for one semester in 2021 as a pre-engineering major and took classes consistent with that designation. A 2021 photo shows him standing outside the university's Richard and Moonyeen Anderson Engineering Building.
Cox credited law enforcement across the state and members of the public for tips and video reviews that aided the investigation, and he thanked Robinson’s family members for coming forward. "We are indebted to law enforcement across the state," Cox said. "I want to thank the family members of Tyler Robinson who did the right thing in this case and were able to bring him in to law enforcement as well."
The governor offered condolences to Kirk’s family, including his wife and two young children, and called the shooting "a very sad day for our country, a terrible day for the state of Utah." Authorities released booking photos of Robinson after his arrest.
Investigators said the probe remains active. They described the arrest as the result of a coordinated effort that combined surveillance footage, physical evidence and tips from the public and the suspect’s family. No further charges or additional arrests were disclosed at the briefing.
Statements released by Utah Valley University and other agencies reiterated that campus safety remained a priority as officials continued to review evidence and coordinate with federal partners. The FBI also participated in the investigation, officials said.
The case has drawn national attention because of Kirk’s role as the founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative advocacy group. Local and federal authorities said they would provide more information as the investigation progresses and as criminal proceedings move forward.