Suspect Arrested for Murder of Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk speaking astatine the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Credit: Gage Skidmore / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

A Utah antheral has been arrested arsenic a fishy successful transportation with the fatal shooting of blimpish activistic Charlie Kirk, ending a two-day manhunt that drew nationalist attention. Authorities said the suspect, identified arsenic Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody precocious Thursday nighttime pursuing a extremity from a household member.

Officials said the household subordinate told a person that Robinson had either confessed oregon hinted astatine being progressive successful the killing. The person contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which alerted national authorities. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that Robinson was arrested astatine 10 PM section clip connected Thursday.

Robinson is accused of shooting Kirk portion helium was speaking astatine Utah Valley University connected Wednesday afternoon. The gunman opened occurrence during the event, past fled the scene.

Law enforcement agencies launched a wide-scale search, releasing surveillance images of the fishy dressed successful achromatic and carrying a backpack. Footage besides showed him moving crossed a field rooftop instantly aft the shooting.

Timeline of the suspect’s movements and arrest

As investigators pieced unneurotic Robinson’s movements, they reviewed further video from field information cameras. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Robinson arrived connected field astir 8:30 AM section clip connected Wednesday, driving a grey Dodge Challenger.

At that time, helium was seen wearing a maroon T-shirt, light-colored shorts, and a achromatic hat, antithetic from the outfit captured aft the shooting.

Tyler Robinson's ain begetter turned him in.

He did the close thing, but ideate however gutting it indispensable beryllium to cognize that your lad committed specified an inconceivable evil and you had to crook him in. pic.twitter.com/qbYnSGJNt3

— Kangmin Lee | 이강민 (@kangminjlee) September 12, 2025

Cox besides revealed that investigators spoke with Robinson’s roommate, who provided messages allegedly sent by Robinson connected the level Discord.

In those messages, Robinson reportedly mentioned retrieving a firearm from a driblet location, noting it was wrapped successful a towel. A weapon matching that description, a Mauser bolt-action firearm with a mounted scope, was aboriginal recovered by authorities.

Several bullets were recovered, immoderate bearing handwritten messages. A spent casing was marked with a cryptic operation that remains unexplained. One unfired circular had the words “Hey fascist! Catch!” with arrow symbols. Another included lyrics from Bella Ciao, an anti-fascist Italian absorption song. A 3rd casing carried a vulgar message.

Political motive and nationalist response

Gov. Cox said a household subordinate noted Robinson had go much politically driven successful caller years.

At a caller dinner, Robinson mentioned that Kirk would beryllium speaking astatine the assemblage and expressed dislike for his governmental views. The household subordinate reportedly described Kirk arsenic idiosyncratic who, successful their opinion, promoted hate.

President Donald Trump, speaking Friday greeting connected Fox & Friends, confirmed that a fishy had been detained. He stated that helium hopes Robinson is recovered blameworthy and receives the decease penalty.

The fishy arrested successful the Charlie Kirk shooting is presently being held portion authorities proceed the investigation. Charges person not yet been formally announced.