Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson, 22, 'had become more political in recent years'
Gunman 'became more political' in recent years, says family member
The suspected gunman who shot and killed right-wing activitst Charlie Kirk during a student rally at a Utah campus has been named as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
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Tyler James Robinson, of Washington, Utah, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice, all felonies, according to an affidavit filed in court and released Friday.
A judge ordered that he be held without bail.
He is thought to have been turned in by his own father, a 27-year veteran law enforcement officer with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Two senior law enforcement officials said a family member saw photos of the suspect and handed him in to police as the FBI scrambled to track him down in a two-day manhunt.
Inscriptions engraved on bullet casings from the high-powered bolt action rifle recovered by officials read "Hey fascist! Catch!", the FBI revealed.
"Bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao," another read.
"if you read this you are gay! LMAO," read another.
Robinson "had become more political in recent years," a family member told investigators, according to Utah governor Spencer Cox.
Robinson is registered to vote but is not affiliated with a political party, according to Utah state records.
He was also listed as inactive, meaning he had not voted in at least the last two general elections.
The family member mentioned a recent dinner where Robinson brought up how Charlie Kirk was coming to Utah Valley University, Cox said.
He added that they "talked about why they didn't like him and the viewpoints he had" and discussed how "Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate".
The Utah governor then thanked Robinson's family members who "did the right thing" by turning him in.
"It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment. It is an attack on our ideals. This cuts to the very foundation of who we are, of who we have been and, and who we could be in better times," Mr Cox said referring to Kirk's assassination.
Robinson was reportedly arrested in St. George, Utah, near Zion National Park, about 250 miles southwest of the campus where Kirk was killed.
Investigators interviewed Robinson's roommate, who said the suspect made a comment on the instant messaging service Discord mentioning he needed to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush.
The messages "related to visually watching the area where a rifle was left, and a message referring to having left the rifle wrapped in a towel," Mr Cox added.
Speaking at a press briefing following his arrest, FBI director Kash Patel said: "In 33 hours, we have made historic progress for Charlie."
"To my friend Charlie Kirk, rest now brother, we have the watch and I'll see you in Valhalla," he added.
Read more: ‘I think we have him’: Donald Trump reveals Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin has been caught
Read more: JD Vance escorts Charlie Kirk's casket aboard Air Force Two as Second Lady comforts widow
Authorities had appealed for help finding Robinson, with the FBI offering a $100,000 reward for information that could lead to his identification as they scrambled to track down the suspected killer.
Up to 11,000 leads had been shared with the authorities, the FBI said.
A high-powered bolt action rifle used to shoot and kill Kirk was recovered by officials yesterday as the search closed in.
Robinson has since been booked into Utah County Jail.
Father-of-two Kirk was shot in the neck 20 minutes into a student-sponsored event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday in front of an audience of 3,000.
Kirk, who was known for holding outdoor debates on campuses across the US, was responding to a question from an audience member about mass shootings when a shot rang out.
Graphic footage shared online shows Kirk sustained a serious injury to his neck. Spectators can be seen screaming and running away after the shot was fired.
Kirk was taken to hospital but just a few hours later President Trump announced Kirk's death on Truth Social.
He wrote: "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"
