Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from southwestern Utah, is in custody as a suspect in the shooting death of Arizona-based conservative activist Charlie Kirk, state and federal authorities said Sept. 12.
A gunman with a bolt-action rifle killed Kirk, the leader of Phoenix-based Turning Point USA, on Sept. 10 as he was speaking in front of about 3,000 people as part of his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. Kirk died after being struck by one round to the neck.
President Donald Trump announced that the suspect was in custody during an early-morning interview on Sept. 12. The news came a day after law enforcement released several images as well as a video showing a man believed to be the gunman leaping from a rooftop and fleeing after the attack.
More than 7,000 tips have poured in from the public, and investigators have interviewed more than 200 witnesses since Sept. 10. FBI Director Kash Patel applauded the quick work of authorities and mentioned that the Phoenix FBI field office was involved in the investigation.
Who was Charlie Kirk?
Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization that has become a major force in Republican politics.
Over the past decade, Kirk emerged as a prominent ally of President Donald Trump, building a large online presence and expanding Turning Point into a national political influencer.
Kirk’s breakout moment came in 2016 when he delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. At 22 years old, he energized the crowd with bold statements like “Big government sucks” and described the GOP as “the party of youth and diversity.”
In the following year, Kirk’s influence grew significantly. Turning Point became a political heavyweight, especially in Arizona, where it has played a role in organizing conservative events.
During the 2024 presidential election, Turning Point’s campaign regularly hosted rallies for Trump in Arizona, a critical swing state.
What was Charlie Kirk doing when he was shot?
Kirk was at an outdoor event on the campus of Utah Valley University when he was shot at about 12:10 p.m. on Sept. 10. The shot came, authorities said, from a gunman perched on a nearby building.
Seconds before Kirk was shot, someone had asked him about mass shootings. In his response, Kirk asked whether the tally of mass shootings should include those committed as part of gang violence.
Videos that circulated online showed Kirk, 31, being shot in the neck, his body slumping over as blood flowed heavily. The scene in the videos aligned with eyewitness reports of the shooting.
The campus closed soon after the shooting, and all classes were canceled. University police asked students to leave the campus immediately. All roads to the university were closed, and police were “going building to building escorting people off campus.”
What do we know about Tyler Robinson?
Tyler Robinson, 22, attended school in St. George, Utah, and has no criminal history, according to state records. He was also a registered voter in Utah, though he did not affiliate with any political party.
Social media posts shared by Robinson’s mother, Amber, portray a close-knit family, with Tyler as the eldest of three sons.
The photos show the family enjoying vacations to the Grand Canyon and spending time together on outdoor adventures like fishing trips.
According to Amber Robinson’s social media, Tyler wore a Trump-related Halloween costume in 2017.
In August 2020, Amber Robinson shared what appeared to be the ACT college aptitude test scores of her son Tyler ― an impressive 34 out of 36, which places him in the top 1% of test takers based on national averages.
That same year, Tyler Robinson graduated from Pine View High School in St. George, Utah, according to Amber Robinson’s social media posts.
Tyler Robinson was later photographed at Utah State University, and according to a video posted by Amber Robinson, received an academic scholarship offer from the Logan-based institution.
Where is Tyler Robinson from?
Robinson is from southwestern Utah. He graduated from high school in St. George, Utah, and he was a Utah registered voter.
Where was Tyler Robinson arrested?
Law enforcement contacted Robinson on the morning of Sept. 12 in Washington County, Utah, authorities said. They did not say exactly where Robinson was when police caught up with him. Court documents don’t say it either.
What was Tyler Robinson charged with?
Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, discharge of a firearm causing major bodily injury and obstruction of justice — all felonies — according to an affidavit obtained by The Arizona Republic.
Has Tyler Robinson been convicted of anything before?
Court documents say Robinson was not convicted of any felonies or misdemeanors before the shooting.
Will Tyler Robinson face the death penalty?
In his early-morning interview on Sept. 12, Trump said he hopes the suspect gets the death penalty, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox previously reminded news media that his state has the death penalty.
Prosecutors have not officially announced an intention to seek the death penalty.
How did authorities learn of Tyler Robinson?
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, early reports suggested that a suspect had been taken into custody. However, FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X.com that the person had been released after an interrogation by law enforcement.
Robinson was taken into custody after a family member contacted a family friend, who told authorities that Robinson had “confessed to them or implied that he committed the incident,” Gov. Cox said.
A family member of Robinson alerted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office about 10 p.m. on Sept. 11 that Robinson had confessed to the shooting, Cox said in a Sept. 12 news conference.
The Sheriff’s Office notified the FBI, which went to the house and found additional evidence implicating Robinson in the crime, Cox said.
Additionally, there was no information found that would lead authorities to make more arrests, Cox said.
What was the motive to kill Charlie Kirk?
Cox said a family member and Robinson had discussed Kirk’s visit to Utah. The family member said the two discussed that they “didn’t like him and the viewpoints he had.” Cox said the conversation was about how Kirk “was full of hate and spreading hate.”
A roommate of Robinson showed authorities messages sent by Robinson, apparently planning the shooting, Cox said. The messages mentioned hiding a rifle in a towel and changing outfits, Cox said.
Cox said that bullet casings near where the rifle was located, in a wooded area just off campus, were engraved with messages. One said: “Hey fascist! Catch!” according to Cox.
Attending the service: President Trump will attend Charlie Kirk funeral in Arizona
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who is Tyler Robinson? What we know about suspect in Kirk’s slaying