Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Friday condemned what he called "ugly" and "dark" online celebrations following the public assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, urging Americans to reject conspiracy theories and the cycle of political violence as investigators continue to probe the attack.
Kirk, 31, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot Wednesday during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Washington, Utah, on Thursday night and have charged him with aggravated murder and related felonies; a judge ordered him held without bail. Cox told reporters the investigation indicates the suspect acted alone but is ongoing and that prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
Cox said hundreds of officials from across the political spectrum had reached out to express sorrow and disgust at both the killing and the subsequent social media reactions. "Those violent images that we saw are just terrible," he said on Fox News' Special Report. "We're not conditioned for that type of information. … We've lost too much of our humanity, and it happens in those dark corners of social media. … We just have to find a way to disconnect from that."
Law enforcement officials have said Robinson is accused of firing a single shot from roughly 200 yards away that struck Kirk in the neck. Cox described investigative findings suggesting the rifle had been carried onto a rooftop rather than assembled there and said officers later recovered the weapon in nearby woods after it had allegedly been wrapped in a towel. Evidence, including the bullet, is being processed, he said.
A probable cause affidavit released Friday said family members told investigators Robinson had become more political in recent years and had discussed disliking Kirk's viewpoints during a family dinner. Cox said a break in the case came when a family member contacted a family friend to report that Robinson had "confessed" or otherwise implied involvement. Cox also said investigators believe the shooting was motivated by hatred toward Kirk and his beliefs.
Robinson is listed in the affidavit as a trade student and a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Court and state records show he is registered to vote but not affiliated with a political party and had no prior criminal cases in state or federal court records. The affidavit said he faces charges that include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice.
Kirk's widow, Erika Frantzve Kirk, delivered her first public remarks on Friday evening in Arizona, describing her husband as having "laid down his life for me, for our nation, for our children." Frantzve, a former Miss Arizona and host of a devotional podcast, spoke tearfully to a large audience from the studio where her husband recorded, thanking President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and others for their support. Vance helped carry Kirk's casket onto Air Force Two as the body was flown from Utah to Phoenix, where Kirk will be buried.
President Trump said Friday he intends to attend Kirk's funeral and announced plans to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Vice President Vance and his wife, Usha, joined family members and Turning Point USA staff in the days after the shooting.
Cox said he had spoken with Kirk's family and called their grief "devastating." He urged that the family play a central role in legal decisions and public responses. "What I will also say is that we believe very strongly that the victims need to play a role in these conversations," he said, naming Kirk's wife and children and other family members.
Investigators have been following leads about the events before and after the shooting. Cox noted video in which the suspect appeared to walk with a limp and said it was a "very distinct possibility" that the rifle had been concealed in his clothing. Police said Robinson allegedly tried to hide the weapon in the woods after the shooting; it was recovered later that evening.
Authorities treating the killing as a political assassination have urged calm and warned against amplifying unverified claims as the probe continues. Cox criticized the spread of conspiracy theories online and called celebratory reactions to Kirk's death "so ugly and so dark," emphasizing a need to reject political violence and preserve civil discourse.
The killing has reverberated through conservative political circles and among national leaders. Turning Point USA staff and supporters, as well as national political figures, have expressed grief. Officials said they expect to release further information as evidence is processed and as prosecutors prepare toward potential capital charges. The investigation remains active, and law enforcement has asked anyone with relevant information or footage to come forward.