This story is breaking and will be updated
Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer was taken into custody at 10 p.m., Thursday night, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and FBI Director Kash Patel announced at a press conference at Utah Valley University on Friday morning.
The suspect was confirmed to be 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson from Washington County, Utah. They believe he acted alone, but the investigation is ongoing, Cox said.
Later Friday, the scene shifted to southern Utah where Robinson resided.
Outside his home in Washington, Washington County, law enforcement officers blocked off Robinson’s parents home with vehicles.
Reporters from across the country are gathered, waiting for Robinson’s Dodge Charger to be transported up to Utah County. FBI officials are walking in and out of the house.
Meanwhile, local residents are both devastated and annoyed.
Siblings Victoria and Colby Cannon live in the area and came to see the house, after seeing police cars and hoards of journalists. Both Victoria and Colby were big fans of Charlie Kirk and were shocked when they realized the suspected shooter was from the area.
Another woman standing on her front lawn only a few doors down from the Robinsons’, had a reporter park in front of her driveway. She expressed sympathy for Robinson’s parents and wished they were given more space.
On Friday evening, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement condemning violence and reaffirming a call for peace:
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints condemns horrific acts of violence worldwide, including the recent assassination in Utah. We affirm our repeated calls to seek peace and unity despite our differences. Jesus Christ teaches us to love one another, that hate is wrong and that human life is sacred. We urge all to reject violence and instead build understanding. Recognizing that we are all children of God, we must treat one another with more dignity, compassion and respect. As we mourn with those who have experienced loss and care for those living in fear or conflict, we call upon people everywhere to build communities of greater kindness and love.”
Robinson is currently being held at the Utah County Jail.
Christopher Ballard, the general counsel with the Utah County Attorney’s Office, told the Deseret News that his office is “carefully reviewing all of the evidence to determine the appropriate charges.”
They plan to file those on Tuesday, followed by a press conference at noon. A location has not yet been determined.
Robinson’s first appearance in court will be on Tuesday at 3 pm MST.
Until then, Ballard said no other formal statement will be given regarding the active investigation.
The Utah County Commissioners’ office said they were “relieved” by the news of Robinson’s arrest, and that it “brings a measure of reassurance to a community shaken by violence,” thanking state and federal law enforcement for their efforts, per a press release obtained by Deseret News.
“We stand united in our unwavering conviction that political violence has no place in our society. A vigorous and decisive prosecution is essential — not only to deliver justice, but to send an unequivocal message: such acts will never be tolerated," the press release added. “This shooting has cast a dark shadow over Utah County, the State of Utah, and our nation. But in the face of this darkness, we remain steadfast in our commitment to justice, unity, and the rule of law.”
For those who were at the event and left personal belongings behind at Utah Valley University’s Courtyard, the university said in an X post that beginning early next week, those items will be available to pick up.
During the cleanup, an American flag taped near the fountain in the courtyard was found that read “Violence is never the answer,” per The Associated Press.
Due to the tragedy that occurred this week at UVU, Brigham Young University has either canceled or changed the following events:
- BYU 150: Night of Light: This event has been canceled and will be held October 15-16.
- True Blue Foam: Moved to September 24 at 3:30 p.m.
- Women’s Soccer vs. UVU Friday: This match will still be played, but on BYU’s campus.
Robinson is not a UVU student, Cox said, but was living with his family in Washington, Utah.
Utah State University said Robinson briefly attended the school for one semester in 2021.
Authorities were in communication with Robinson’s roommate, who had messages from Robinson on Discord, including about a need to retrieve a rifle at a drop point, Cox said. The message said he left the gun wrapped in a towel.
Investigators discovered a rifle wrapped in a dark colored towel, just North of UVU campus.
Cox said the bullets in the gun had inscriptions on the casings that read, “Hey fascist! Catch!”, “Notices, bulges, OwO what’s this?”, and an up arrow symbol, a down arrow symbol and three arrows pointed down and to the left — a popularly used symbol within the Antifa movement. Also the messages, “oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,” apparently a song used in the Italian resistance movement in WWII, and “If you read this, you are gay LMAO.”
Robinson arrived at UVU campus, Wednesday morning, in a grey Dodge Challenger, and his roommate said that is the car Robinson usually drives, Cox said.
Cox also echoed one of Kirk’s most well-known quotes that, “When people stop talking, really bad stuff starts.”
“When you stop sharing a human connection with someone you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to commit violence,” Cox said. “He (Kirk) said, we as a culture have to get back to being able to have reasonable agreement where violence is not an option.”
“Charlie posted to social media, when things are moving very fast, and people are losing their minds, it’s important to stay grounded, turn off your phone, read scripture, spend time with friends, and remember internet fury is not real life,” Cox added.
Patel thanked Trump, the FBI and others. “In 33 hours, we have made historic progress for Charlie,” he said.
Kirk was shot at 12:23 pm, and the first FBI agents arrived on scene 16 minutes later, he said. The FBI immediately sent assets to the scene to transport personnel and forensic evidence.
They received 11,000 tips from the media, and will be following up with every single one, Patel said.
Patel also said he told the FBI to release the photos and the video of the suspect leaving campus. On Fox News’s “Fox & Friends”, Trump said, a minister who was involved with law enforcement turned the suspect in, Trump said.
“It was a minister ... and his good friend is a top U.S. Marshal, and they took it from there. And then a father got involved, namely his father,” Trump said.
When asked if the father had known what his son allegedly had done, Trump said he didn’t know.
When asked about the moment he heard the news of Kirk, “I didn’t know what they meant. I said, ‘What do you mean, dead?’” Trump said.
“‘Charlie Kirk was shot ...’ I just told these people, ‘Get out. Just go.’”
Trump also reflected on Kirk’s ability to connect with America’s youth and credited his winning the youth vote in the 2024 presidential election to Kirk.
“A Republican never wins youth, but I won youth,” Trump said, noting that Kirk helped him with TikTok and with making those generational connections.
“I’ve never seen young people, or any group, go to one person like they did to Charlie,” Trump added.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office is dispelling rumors online that Robinson’s father was a Washington County Sheriff deputy.
“The individual arrested is NOT related to Washington County law enforcement! There are multiple people with the same names. We thank our local and federal law enforcement officials for their coordination in the investigation and arrest,” a statement obtained by the Deseret News from the Washington County Attorney’s Office, said.
On Thursday night, the FBI shared a video of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer jumping off the roof of a campus building after he allegedly shot Kirk just after noon on Wednesday.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino and Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson released the video during a press conference at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Thursday evening.
FBI Director Kash Patel was also in Utah Thursday evening and attended but did not speak at the press conference.
The FBI has received over 7,000 tips, which is the most of any investigation since the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, the officials said. They have also completed around 200 interviews.
“We cannot do our job without the public’s help right now,” Cox said.
Cox also urged those struggling with Kirk’s death to stay off social media. “When things get bad, we should put our phones down and spend a little time with our families,” Cox said.
He continued, “Our adversaries want violence.”
Cox said they are working with attorneys to seek the death penalty against the eventual suspect. “We are going to pursue the death penalty in this case,” he said.
In addition to the new video footage, the FBI released six images of a “person of interest” in connection with the case.
For any identifying information related to the killer, the FBI is offering up to $100,000.
The man in the images appears to be tall and thin with dark hair. On Wednesday at UVU, he was wearing a black long-sleeve shirt with an American flag and an eagle on it, blue jeans, Converse tennis shoes, glasses and a baseball cap, the officials said.
They are asking the public for help identifying him either by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a report to the FBI’s tip line.
At a press conference Thursday morning, Bohls and Mason said they believe they found the weapon used to kill Kirk.
Based on their photos, “the suspect blended in well with a college institution. That individual appears to be of college age,” Mason said.
The weapon used, a high powered bolt-action rifle, was found in a wooded area near campus, they said. The Wall Street Journal reported that an internal law enforcement memo shows the ammunition was engraved with transgender and anti-fascist ideology. The gun also had three unspent rounds in the magazine, each with wording on them, the WSJ said. The Deseret News has not yet been able to independently verify that report.
From campus cameras, officials believe the shooter arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m. and proceeded directly to the roof. After the shot at 12:20 p.m., he ran across the roof, jumped off of the building and ran through a nearby neighborhood.
Bohls added that his team is analyzing a “footwear impression... and a forearm imprint” as well as a palm print allegedly left by the killer.
“We are investing everything we have in this, and we will catch this individual,” Mason said. “The heinous event last night is not Utah.”
Mason added that he spoke with Kirk’s wife Erika, on Wednesday night.
JD Vance accompanying Kirk’s family back to Arizona
Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance traveled to Salt Lake City, Thursday, to meet with Charlie Kirk’s family and accompany Kirk’s body back to Phoenix on Air Force Two.
Vance was scheduled to be in New York on Thursday, for a 9/11 commemoration service. On X, Wednesday night, Vance wrote, “Charlie Kirk was a true friend. The kind of guy you could say something to and know it would always stay with him.”
Trump to give Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom
At the Pentagon, Thursday morning, President Trump addressed a 9/11 memorial service and addressed Kirk’s death.
“We miss him greatly,” he said. “Yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage that he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on.”
Kirk will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, posthumously. “I can only guarantee you one thing — that we will have a very big crowd. Very, very big," the President said.
“Charlie; we love you,” Trump continued. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
