For more than a day, the manhunt for Tyler Robinson gripped Utah as authorities searched for the 22-year-old suspected of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a campus event at Utah Valley University.
The search ended only after Robinson’s father recognized him in photographs distributed by law enforcement, setting off a chain of events that ultimately led to Robinson being taken into custody. While many questions remain about the shooting, which officials have described as a “political assassination,” investigators and those who know Robinson have begun piecing together a portrait of the alleged gunman.
At a Friday morning press conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed the arrest, opening his remarks with, “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We got him.” Cox explained that after Robinson’s father saw the photographs, he instructed his son to turn himself in.
Robinson initially refused but later agreed. The father contacted a youth pastor who also serves as a U.S. Marshals task force officer, who advised that Robinson remain in place. This guidance was relayed to the FBI, and Cox publicly thanked Robinson’s family, saying they “did the right thing.”
Authorities also interviewed Robinson’s roommate, who provided messages between the two.
The messages discussed retrieving a rifle from a drop point, leaving the weapon in a bush, engraving bullets, and included a mention of a scope and a rifle described as unique. Law enforcement sources told ABC News that the rifle was an older imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel, and that its location appeared to align with Robinson’s movements.
FBI Director Kash Patel said law enforcement located Robinson within 33 hours of the shooting, and officers were on site within 16 minutes of the incident. “This is very much an ongoing investigation, as the governor said, and we will continue to work with state and local authorities to provide the evidence needed for ongoing prosecutions,” Patel stated.
Surveillance footage from Utah Valley University showed Robinson arriving on campus at 8:29 a.m. on the day of the shooting, driving a gray Dodge Challenger. He initially wore a plain maroon T-shirt, light-colored shorts, light-colored shoes, and a black hat with a white logo.
Officials said Robinson changed into dark clothing before the shooting and reverted to the original outfit afterward. The video appeared to show him walking with a stiff right leg, resembling a limp, likely because he was concealing the rifle under his clothing.
The affidavit noted that as he approached the shooting position, the limp disappeared, consistent with the weapon no longer being hidden. Investigators also believe he did not conceal the rifle while fleeing the scene.
Authorities examined the casings recovered at the scene, which contained cryptic inscriptions. One unfired casing read: “Hey fascist! CATCH!” with directional arrows. Another read, “O Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Ciao, ciao!” a reference to an Italian anti-fascist song, and a third read, “If you read this, you are GAY Lmao.” Cox declined to elaborate on the meanings of the latter two, but said the reference to fascism “speaks for itself.” The suspect’s motives remain unclear.
Prior to his identification, law enforcement described the person of interest as a college-aged individual with proficiency handling a high-powered rifle who likely knew the university’s layout.
During a Thursday morning news conference, Robert Bohls, the FBI special agent in charge of Salt Lake City, said investigators recovered the weapon used in the shooting, which Governor Cox called a “political assassination.” Cox also said Robinson had become “more political in recent years” and had discussed Kirk’s visit with family members, expressing disapproval of Kirk’s viewpoints and describing him as “full of hate and spreading hate.”
Robinson was not enrolled at Utah Valley University. He lived with his family in Washington County, Utah, and is currently attending Dixie Technical College, pursuing a career as an electrician. On the day of the shooting, he was reportedly not in class.
He previously graduated from Pine View High School in St. George in 2021 and attended Utah State University for one semester. Classmates described him as friendly but reserved, never openly political, and not discussing guns.
Neighbors characterized the Robinson family as quiet and loving. Kristin Schwiermann, a childhood neighbor and former head custodian at Riverside Elementary, said Robinson had been active and smart as a child, staying mostly to himself. Alenea Shaw, another neighbor, recalled Robinson performing odd jobs as a child, noting the family was hard-working and private.
Before identifying Robinson, authorities released video of the person of interest jumping from a roof on campus. Beau Mason, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, noted the suspect’s distinct clothing, including Converse sneakers, which left identifiable impressions.
Investigators collected shoe impressions, a palm print, and forearm prints, while tracking the suspect’s movements via video. The FBI also released surveillance images of a white male in dark clothing, including a collarless long-sleeved top with an American flag image, a dark ball cap, and sunglasses. A $100,000 reward was announced for information leading to the suspect’s capture.
Authorities believe Robinson arrived at UVU at 11:52 a.m., about 28 minutes before Kirk, who was speaking to an estimated 3,000 people. The fatal shot was fired from a substantial distance in a building near the crowd.
Mason explained that investigators tracked Robinson across the campus, up stairwells, across the roof, and to the shooting location. Afterward, he fled the campus into a neighborhood. Doorbell camera footage in the surrounding area was analyzed, and authorities canvassed the neighborhood for leads.
Brad Garrett, a retired FBI agent, noted the evidence suggests the suspect meticulously planned the attack, including discarding the rifle along his escape route.
He added that the discovery of the suspect’s palm print could aid the investigation if Robinson’s prints exist in government or military records, though this is considered a long shot.
