A 22-year-old man was taken into custody Thursday in the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University, authorities said, and a friend of the Kirk family said the slain commentator's wife had long feared an assassination.
Riley Gaines, a former NCAA All-American swimmer who has appeared alongside Kirk at events, paid an emotional tribute on Thursday and said Erika Kirk had once told her that her "greatest fear" was that her husband would be killed. Gaines described Kirk as "a friend and mentor" and said the loss was personal and traumatic for the family.
Authorities identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said family members of Robinson told investigators the defendant had expressed dislike for Kirk and described him as "full of hate" during a family dinner in the days before the shooting. Cox said those comments prompted family members to alert police after Robinson was arrested.
Robinson was taken into custody Thursday night after a relative or family friend contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office with information that Robinson had confessed or implied involvement in the shooting, Cox said. Police said the suspect's father recognized his son in photographs released by the FBI and confronted him; that confrontation led to a confession and a plea from the father that the son turn himself in.
A probable cause affidavit charges Robinson with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors told reporters they intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted. Authorities have said the motive for the killing remains under investigation.
Law enforcement officials disclosed additional investigative details on Friday. Family members told police Robinson had become "more political in recent years," Cox said. Investigators also identified a grey Dodge Challenger believed to be the suspect's vehicle, and a roommate directed officers to a Discord account linked to Robinson. The roommate told police Robinson had asked him to retrieve a rifle that Robinson said he had hidden in bushes and wrapped in a towel, Cox said.
Kirk, 31, founded the conservative youth group Turning Point and was a frequent voice on national conservative platforms. He was speaking at a university event when witnesses said he was shot in the neck. He is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, and two young children, a 16-month-old son and a three-year-old daughter.
Gaines, who has been a public supporter and occasional collaborator with Turning Point, recalled telling audiences about Kirk's influence on conservative youth politics. "I lost a friend and a mentor," she said in the video posted Thursday. She added that Erika Kirk was "one of the most kind and compassionate women you can possibly imagine" and expressed concern for the couple's children, saying they would be "haunted forever by the videos that can't be scrubbed from social media."
Investigators continue to collect evidence and interview witnesses as the case moves forward. Robinson remains in custody as state and local authorities coordinate the ongoing probe and prosecutors prepare formal charges and a potential capital-case filing.