A suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been arrested in Utah, identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, who was taken into custody late Thursday night after his father reported him to authorities.
Robinson confessed to his father, who then contacted a youth pastor and U.S. Marshals, leading to his apprehension. The arrest followed a manhunt after Kirk was shot during a debate at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, with officials describing the act as a political assassination.
President Donald Trump announced the arrest on Fox and Friends, expressing a high degree of certainty in the suspect's capture and stating he hopes the killer receives the death penalty.
The suspect was apprehended in St. George, Utah, roughly 250 miles from the university where the shooting occurred. His father recognized him from photos released by law enforcement, which showed a person wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt with an American flag and eagle, dark pants, a cap, and sunglasses. After the father urged him to turn himself in, Robinson initially refused but later changed his mind, leading to his arrest. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the suspect was taken into custody within 33 hours of the shooting.
The investigation involved over 7,000 tips and 200 interviews. Law enforcement sources believe the suspect arrived on campus in a gray Dodge Challenger, changed clothes before and after the shooting, and fled by jumping from the roof of the Losee Center building. The FBI released surveillance images and video of the suspect fleeing, and a $100,000 reward was offered for information leading to his capture.
Authorities revealed that Robinson had coordinated with others on the messaging app Discord, where he discussed retrieving a rifle from a "drop point," leaving it in a bush wrapped in a towel, and sharing messages related to the weapon's location. Robinson's roommate provided investigators with access to the Discord messages from an account named "Tyler."
The suspected murder weapon—a bolt-action Mauser .30-06 rifle—was recovered wrapped in a dark towel in a wooded area near the university campus. Forensic evidence, including bullet casings, was found at the scene. Inscriptions on the casings included "Hey fascist! Catch!" and "O bella ciao..." The rifle had a scope mounted on it.
The suspect is currently facing multiple felony charges under Utah law, including aggravated murder. Governor Spencer Cox confirmed Utah intends to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
Robinson was a third-year student at Dixie Technical College in the electrical apprenticeship program and had previously attended Utah State University as a pre-engineering major before taking a leave of absence in 2021. He was registered to vote as "unaffiliated" in 2021.
A resident of Southern Utah, Robinson reportedly became more extreme in his political in recent years and had discussed Kirk's upcoming visit with a family member, expressing negative views about him. His father, Matt Robinson, is a 27-year veteran of the Washington County Sheriff's Department, and his mother, Amber Robinson, worked as a care worker.
Robinson was "pretty left on everything," according to a friend reportedly, and was the only member of his family that was really leftist... the rest of his family was Republican." He would "always just be ranting and arguing about," the friend said reportedly.
During his appearance on Fox News, Trump blamed radical left-wing media, Democrat activists and donors like globalist billionaire George Soros for inciting political violence.
"We're going to look into Soros because I think it's a RICO case against him and other people because this is more than protests. This is real agitation; this is riots on the street — and we're going to look into that," Trump told Fox and Friends.
The political assissination of Kirk has led to wild speculations online after some previously unreported behind-the-scenes story about the developing rift between the TPUSA founder and his rich pro-Iseal donors.
Kirk’s growing criticism of Israeli influence in U.S. politics had reportedly provoked a fierce backlash from allies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leaving Kirk angry and fearful in the months before his death.
The popular conservative commentator and TPUSA founder had reportedly rejected an offer from Netanyahu earlier in 2025 to funnel significant Zionist funding into TPUSA, America’s largest conservative youth organization.
Kirk, who had long been a staunch supporter of Israel, reportedly saw the offer as an attempt to silence his increasing public skepticism about Israel’s sway over Washington. He began questioning the Jewish nation's influence, particularly after witnessing what he perceived as Netanyahu’s efforts to control Trump administration personnel decisions and leverage billionaire donors like Miriam Adelson to maintain influence over the White House.
The TPUSA had reportedly privately warned President Trump in June 2025 against bombing Iran at Israel’s behest, a conversation that reportedly led to a heated rebuke from Trump. This incident deepened Kirk’s belief that the U.S. president was under the sway of a foreign power, pushing the country toward disastrous conflicts.
Kirk’s shift in stance coincided with a broader backlash among younger Republicans, with only 24% sympathizing with Israel over Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza.
At TPUSA’s July 2025 Student Action Summit, Kirk allowed popular conservative speakers Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Dave Smith to openly criticize Israel’s actions and influence, including speculation about Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to Israeli intelligence.
The July event marked a significant departure from Kirk’s earlier pro-Israel rhetoric, which had been fueled by Zionist donors since TPUSA’s founding in 2012. The shift infuriated Netanyahu’s wealthy U.S. allies, who bombarded Kirk with hostile messages, demanding he realign with their agenda. Kirk’s friend reportedly described him as both "alienated and frightened" by the intensity of this backlash.
Kirk publicly addressed the pressure he faced in an August 6 interview with Megyn Kelly, expressing frustration at being censored by pro-Israel “leaders” and “stakeholders.” He noted that he faced greater restrictions on criticizing Israel than Israelis themselves, highlighting the dozens of menacing texts he received.
In a September 9 interview with Ben Shapiro, Kirk again raised concerns about media narratives surrounding Israel, suggesting a need for scrutiny. His friend reportedly noted that Kirk’s resentment of Netanyahu’s influence was shared by others in Trump’s inner circle, with Trump himself reportedly fearful of defying the Israeli leader.
Trump administration had reportedly uncovered Israeli spying efforts, including electronic devices placed on Secret Service vehicles, echoing a 2019 Politico report about Israeli surveillance near the White House. While unconfirmed, these claims fueled speculation about Israel’s role in Kirk’s death, particularly after a viral post by Infowars’ Harrison Smith, citing a source close to Kirk, claimed Kirk feared Israel would kill him if he turned against them.
Netanyahu swiftly denied any involvement in Kirk’s assassination during a September 11 NewsMax interview, framing the killing as the work of “radical Islamists” and “ultra-progressives.” He issued multiple statements eulogizing Kirk, emphasizing their recent interactions and portraying Kirk as a steadfast ally of Israel, while omitting Kirk’s rejection of his funding offer.
Kirk’s death sparked widespread speculation and distrust, with many questioning the official narrative due to federal law enforcement’s initial mishandling of the case. Pro-Israel commentators like Ben Shapiro, who criticized TPUSA’s “big tent” approach days before the assassination, announced plans to continue Kirk’s campus speaking efforts.
The unresolved tensions over Kirk’s evolving views on Israel, coupled with his assassination, have left a lasting impact on the conservative movement, with uncertainty about where his “turning point” on Israel might have led.
=================
American Conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a "Prove Me Wrong" debate at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10, while speaking to an audience of over 3,000 people.
The suspect remains at large, and authorities have released images of a "person of interest," describing the weapon used as a high-powered, bolt-action rifle, with law enforcement stating they have "good video footage" of the suspect who fled the scene. Law enforcement officials, including the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety, are actively investigating the incident.
Two individuals were briefly taken into custody but were released after being interviewed; neither was linked to the shooting. Authorities believe the attack was targeted, and the suspect is described as possibly "college age." The university has closed for the remainder of the week, and classes are suspended until Monday.
Kirk, 31, was a prominent conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), which he helped grow into a major grassroots organization mobilizing young voters for the Republican Party. He was a close ally of President Donald Trump, known for his energetic campus debates, a nationally syndicated radio show, and a best-selling author
The Utah Valley University event was the first stop on a 14-city "American Comeback Tour." Kirk was known for his direct engagement with opposing views, often debating topics like abortion, climate change, transgender rights, and gun control. He was married to Erika Frantzve and had two young children - all three were there when he was shot.
The shooting occurred as he was answering a question about mass shootings, with eyewitnesses reporting he was struck in the neck.
President Trump announced Kirk's death on Truth Social, calling him "the best of America" and "the Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk," expressing deep personal loss. He ordered American flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the 31-year-old activist.
In a video message later, Trump blamed "radical left political violence" for the attack, claiming that rhetoric comparing conservatives to Nazis and mass murderers has led to terrorism in the country.
In remarks Thursday, at a September 11 observance event in remembrance of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, the President called Kirk's killing a "political assassination," and announced plans to posthumously award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The White House has reportedly begun tightening security as shock and anger reverberate through the Trump administration after Kirk's assassination. The president told reporters Thursday, he spoke to Kirk’s wife, that they had a “long talk” and that she is “devastated, absolutely devastated.”
