FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated on Monday that there were clear “multiple warning signs” indicating that people were aware of Assassin Tyler Robinson’s intention to kill Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, prior to the assassination on September 10th.
According to Bongino in an interview with Fox News’ “American Newsroom,” Robinson’s family and acquaintances indicated during the investigation that he had become more politically active and was planning to target Kirk. FBI Director Kash Patel noted that Robinson had seemingly communicated his intentions through text messages and potentially via Discord chats.
“It appeared there were numerous warning signs,” Bongino remarked. “People in his network, friends, and family had suggested he was becoming more politically inclined. Some of his colleagues mentioned he was somewhat independent regarding political discussions, but his family believed this ideology had started to take hold of him,” he added. “He might have been operating under this mindset from the time we gathered information to the day of that memo, based on the communications within that network.”
Patel, speaking on Fox & Friends, confirmed that Robinson had personally conveyed his intent to kill Kirk via text messages. He also mentioned forensic evidence suggesting Robinson had drafted a now-destroyed memo outlining his plan to execute the attack.
It remains unclear why Robinson’s assassination plot was not reported to law enforcement earlier. Robinson has not been cooperative with authorities and has denied involvement in the shooting, according to Republican Utah Governor Spencer Cox. Reports indicate he confessed to killing his father, who subsequently turned him in.
Hours before Robinson’s arrest, some friends who had interacted with him in a chat confronted him after the FBI released his photo during a manhunt. Robinson allegedly claimed that a “doppelganger” was trying to frame him.
Reports indicate that Robinson used a powerful bolt-action rifle to shoot Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Messages found with the cartridges included taunts like “Heyfascist! Catch!” and “If you’re reading this, you’re a gay lmao.” Investigators also discovered the phrase “Bella Ciao,” which refers to an Italian song that became an anthem for leftists during World War II.
Robinson lived with his reported trans boyfriend, Lance Toigs. The FBI has obtained Robinson’s text message conversations, which included dialogues with Toigs.
