A Utah man accused of killing conservative commentator Charlie Kirk joked with acquaintances on the messaging platform Discord that he resembled the person shown in surveillance photos of the shooter, Governor Spencer Cox said Sunday.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested Friday in connection with the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University that left Kirk dead after he was shot in the neck during a campus debate. Authorities released surveillance images of a suspect two days after the attack and said Robinson turned himself in after being persuaded by his father. He is expected to be formally charged in Kirk's death on Tuesday.
Cox told ABC News investigators found that Robinson and others in a Discord group were joking about the resemblance before his arrest. "Those conversations definitely were happening," the governor said. "And they did not believe it was actually him — it was all joking until he admitted that it actually was him."
Messages obtained by The New York Times and reviewed by investigators showed a user posting the surveillance pictures and tagging Robinson's username with "wya" and a skull emoji. Robinson allegedly replied, "My doppelganger's trying to get me in trouble," and other chat members wrote in jest, "Tyler killed Charlie!!!!" One message reportedly quipped about turning him in for a $100,000 FBI reward; Robinson allegedly replied, "Only if I get a cut." Another exchange included a reference to discarding a manifesto and an "exact copy rifle," according to the messages.
Investigators also say they are examining a handwritten note tied to the case. Jud Hoffman, vice president of trust and safety at Discord, told reporters there were communications between the suspect's roommate and a friend after the shooting in which the roommate recounted the contents of a note. Cox said Sunday that the note remains under review and that such materials "will be included in charging documents" as their accuracy is verified.
Officials have said the cartridge casings recovered at the scene contained engraved messages. Authorities reported that the casings bore phrases including "Hey fascist! CATCH!" along with words drawn from an anti-fascist Italian song and a sexually explicit meme reference. Investigators are working to determine whether the engravings, the note and other evidence indicate motive.
Cox told NBC News that Robinson, a Utah native, appeared to have become more politically radicalized after leaving Utah State University and moving back to southern Utah, and that friends had confirmed heavy engagement with online communities. "Clearly there was a lot of gaming going on, friends that have confirmed that there was kind of that deep, dark Internet, Reddit culture and these other dark places on the Internet where this person was going deep," the governor said.
The governor also confirmed in a CNN interview that Robinson's roommate, identified as Lance Twiggs, is a romantic partner who is transitioning from male to female and that Twiggs is cooperating with investigators. Cox said authorities were probing whether the relationship may have been a factor in the shooting. Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist, had at times promoted anti-transgender rhetoric and was discussing transgender-related topics when he was shot, officials said.
People who knew Robinson in school expressed shock at the arrest and differences in their recollections of him. A former classmate described Robinson as a "really well-rounded" and academically driven student who got along with classmates. Another former schoolmate characterized him as a "Reddit kid," saying heavy internet use can lead to radical shifts in belief. Members of the Discord group said they were stunned and unsure if the messages were serious.
Investigators have not released a motive and have urged the public to await the results of forensic examinations and the formal charging documents. The FBI and local law enforcement continue to gather evidence, interview witnesses and review digital communications as part of the ongoing investigation into the shooting at Utah Valley University.
Robinson remains in custody. Authorities have said the investigation is active and that additional details will be provided as they are verified and ready for disclosure in court filings and to the public.