After a manhunt lasting more than 24 hours, authorities have a suspect in custody in connection with the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university event on Wednesday.
The person in custody is Tyler Robinson, 22, from Utah, five law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told NBC News. Robinson is being held at Utah County Jail.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox began a press conference on Friday by saying, “Good morning, ladies and gentleman, we got him” (in an apparent reference to the apprehension of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein by U.S. forces in 2003).
A Robinson family friend contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with information that Robinson had “implied that he had committed the incident,” according to Cox. The governor also said that a family member told investigators that Robinson “had become more political in recent years” and had mentioned not liking Kirk “for spreading hate.”
Robinson’s roommate showed investigators messages Robinson sent on Discord, a messaging platform, in which he talked about leaving a rifle in a towel in a bush and engraving bullets.
From the beginning, authorities had a number of leads to go on. On Thursday morning, the FBI announced that law enforcement had recovered a high-powered bolt action rifle in a wooded area near campus, which Cox later said was wrapped in a dark-colored towel.
Cox said Friday that investigators found phrases engraved on bullet casings with the rifle. The inscription on the spent bullet casing read, “notices bulges OWO what’s this?” — an apparent reference to a satirical, vaguely salacious internet meme about online chatrooms. Inscriptions on three unfired bullet casings read, “Hey fascist! Catch,” with a series of arrow symbols; the refrain “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao”; and the phrase, “if you’re reading this, you are gay lmao,” Cox said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency had received more than 11,000 tips as of Friday morning. He thanked Trump and Cox for their support and partnership in the investigation. “To my friend Charlie Kirk, rest now, brother,” Patel said. “We have the watch, and I’ll see you in Valhalla.”
President Donald Trump initially broke the news during a segment on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” on Friday morning. “Can I always say ‘I think’ just to protect us all — and so Fox doesn’t get sued, we all don’t get sued and everything else — but I think with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody. Everyone did a great job,” he said.
Kirk, 31, was shot from the rooftop of Utah Valley University’s Losee Center, a building near the quad where Kirk was speaking. The suspect then jumped off of the roof and fled.
Kirk had just been asked a question about gun violence by an audience member before he was shot in the neck and killed.
Trump expressed sympathy for Kirk and his family and said he will posthumously award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Kirk was known for his popular videos in which he debates students on college campuses on controversial issues like abortion, religion and LGBTQ issues. His account on Instagram has nearly 7 million followers.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
