Authorities Arrest, Identify Suspected Charlie Kirk Assassin

Utah officials and the FBI confirmed during a press conference on Friday morning that the man suspected of assassinating conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was taken into custody on Thursday night.

Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox said at a press conference that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested after allegedly confessing or implying to a family member that he had assassinated Kirk. Robinson also recently told a family member of his dislike of Kirk, the governor said. Cox added that a family member of Robinson’s told investigators that the suspected assassin had become more political in recent years, and that Robinson mentioned at a recent dinner that Kirk was scheduled to speak at Utah Valley University.

“They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had,” the governor added. “The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.”

Robinson was taken into custody at around 10:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. One of Robinson’s family members reached out to a family friend about the 22-year-old who allegedly confessed or implied that he had assassinated Kirk. The information “was then relayed” to authorities, according to Cox. Robinson lived with his family in Washington County in southwest Utah and was not a student at Utah Valley University.

Authorities said campus video showed the suspected assassin arriving at Utah Valley University in a gray Dodge Challenger before Kirk’s killing, and a family member later confirmed to investigators that Robinson owned the same type of car.

A roommate of Robinson also spoke with investigators and allowed them to review messages from the suspect that were sent via the online platform Discord. Messages sent from “Tyler” allegedly discussed retrieving a rifle from a “drop point” and “leaving the rifle in a bush,” Cox said. Authorities said they found a bolt-action rifle with a scope attached in a bush in a wooded area near where Kirk was assassinated. Another message from “Tyler” mentioned that he had changed outfits, the governor added.

Cox said that ammunition from the rifle that authorities believe the suspected assassin used to kill Kirk was engraved with multiple phrases, including “Notices Bulges OwO what’s this?” (a furry culture meme), “^>VVV” (the calldown code for a 500kg bomb in the game Helldivers 2), “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao” (song of the Italian antifascist resistance), “If you read this you are gay LMAO,” and “Hey fascist! Catch!” It does not appear that the suspected assassin made any reference to transgender ideology, as was previously stated in reports citing internal government documents.

FBI Director Patel and Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith thanked the public for its help in catching the suspected assassin. Smith added that the success of law enforcement could not have been achieved without the public’s prayers, patience, and support.

“That is what we needed to get through this,” he said.

Patel added that the investigation remains ongoing, and Governor Cox said that charging documents will likely be filed next week. Utah is one of the few states that still has the death penalty. Both Cox and President Donald Trump have called for Kirk’s assassin to be executed after he is convicted.