The man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, a Utah native who had been living with his parents for a long time, authorities said.
Mr. Robinson was taken into custody on 12 September after a family member recognized him in surveillance images, a pivotal development in ending a nationwide manhunt.
That family member was apparently Mr. Robinson's father, who encouraged him to turn himself in, as reported by CBS News citing two law enforcement sources. The father then reportedly reached out to a family friend who contacted the sheriff's office.
At a press briefing on Friday announcing the arrest, FBI officials declined to discuss Mr. Robinson's background, political leanings, or possible motive, stating that the investigation was ongoing.
We are confident we have the right individual in custody, an FBI spokesperson said, but we are still working to establish the full picture of who he is and why he acted.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that a family member interviewed by investigators indicated that Mr. Robinson had become more political in recent years. The relative mentioned that during a dinner conversation before the attack, Mr. Robinson referred to Kirk as full of hate and spreading hate and expressed concerns regarding Kirk's upcoming event at Utah Valley University.
Public records reviewed suggest Mr. Robinson had previously registered as an unaffiliated voter in Utah. His parents are registered Republicans. Mr. Robinson was not enrolled at UVU, where the shooting occurred, and had only attended Utah State University for a single semester in 2021.
Investigators noted Mr. Robinson's engagement with online culture, highlighting references to internet trolling found on shell casings linked to the shooting.
Two casings showed inscriptions typical of trolling humor. One casing bore the phrase notices bulges OwO what's this? alongside another with the statement If you read this, you are gay lmao, both suggestive of an online humor culture. Other casings displayed messages that appeared to connect to anti-fascism sentiments.
Additionally, Mr. Robinson seemed active on platforms like Discord, commonly used in gaming communities. His roommate reportedly shared messages referencing a rifle drop point and related instructions.
As authorities continue to probe Mr. Robinson's background, his motivations and affiliations remain unclear in what officials describe as one of the most significant political killings in recent US history.
