Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R) announced that the individual responsible for the recent shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is identified as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, we got him,” Cox stated during a press conference on Friday morning.
Robinson has been booked into the Utah County Jail, though no charges have been filed as of yet.
Authorities believe he acted alone, but Cox made it clear that the investigation remains ongoing.
“Currently, there is no evidence indicating further arrests,” the governor added when asked about the possibility of more suspects.
Here’s what we know about Robinson.
Who is Tyler Robinson?
Robinson is not a student at Utah Valley University, where the shooting occurred on Wednesday, according to Cox.
He is a registered voter in Utah and resides in Washington, Utah.
Cox noted that Robinson’s family mentioned he had become increasingly politically active recently, even discussing Turning Point USA’s founder Kirk at a family dinner.
“They expressed their disapproval of him and his views. The family characterized Kirk as someone filled with hate,” Cox relayed.
How was Robinson captured?
The governor shared that Robinson’s family contacted a family friend the night prior. This friend reached out to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, suggesting that Robinson had either confessed to or hinted at being the shooter.
A source told Hill’s sister platform, News Nation, that Robinson admitted to his father that he was the shooter. The father then alerted authorities, who secured the suspect until they arrived.
Robinson was apprehended in southern Utah, close to Washington, with the FBI having him on their radar since Thursday. He was identified through facial recognition techniques, sources said.
How did the suspect appear on campus?
Cox indicated that video footage showed Robinson arriving at the campus around 8:30 a.m. on the day of the shooting. He noted that Robinson had worn a black hat, a plain maroon t-shirt, colorful shorts, and shoes when he was on the campus.
“He initially wore different clothing when he was discovered but changed outfits on the roof and returned to the original outfit at some point, which matched what he had on before the shooting,” the governor explained.
What do investigators know about the weapons?
Officials have spoken with Robinson’s roommate, revealing a series of inconsistent messages from him. One message discussed retrieving a rifle, while another mentioned leaving it in the bushes.
Robinson seemed to be tracking the area where the rifle was concealed, which was established to be a Moser 98, 30-06 caliber, equipped with a scope.
What does the investigator know about bullet casings?
Governor Cox confirmed that several bullet casings bore unique markings. One notably read, “Notice, bulging, OWO, what is this?”
Other casings found included inscriptions such as “Like a fascist!” along with a line from the Italian folk song “Bella Ciao.” A further casing read, “If you read this, you’re gay, lmao.”
What initial evidence did the investigator have?
During the manhunt on Thursday, law enforcement released footage showing individuals of interest running on the school’s rooftops and through the parking lot toward a busy road.
Officials reported finding some palm impressions at the scene. “We are trying to collect DNA evidence from some stains. There are also shoe prints that we believe can definitively link the suspect to converging tennis shoes,” an officer said.
Additionally, more images of the suspect were released, depicting him in a black long-sleeved shirt with an eagle and the American flag, blue jeans, a baseball cap, and sunglasses.
Investigators are currently examining traces of forearms, hands, and footwear found at the scene.
