A former law enforcement official suggested that the FBI likely employed straightforward techniques to locate Tyler Robinson, the individual accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk. It’s believed that Robinson didn’t have a concrete escape plan after the shooting.
After shooting Kirk at a Turning Point USA event in Utah on September 10, Robinson seemed untroubled for 33 hours. He eventually engaged with law enforcement on Thursday evening, but what happened in between is still unclear.
Michael Tubman, a former special agent with the FBI, expressed skepticism about Robinson’s actions, stating, “He was acting irrationally, but I don’t think he had a plan.”
Tubman speculated that Robinson might have been overwhelmed soon after the shooting, perhaps realizing the seriousness of his actions and questioning what he had done. “I think he had a plan, but he knew he would get caught,” he noted.
Text conversations between Robinson and his partner, Lance Twiggs, indicated that he remained in Orem, Utah, for some time after the incident. Later, he drove to St. George, also in Utah, about three and a half hours away.
Once in St. George, details of his actions are vague. However, on September 11, his parents identified him from FBI photos and worked with local law enforcement to convince him to surrender peacefully that evening. Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby noted that Robinson had expressed suicidal thoughts but was reassured by his parents that he wouldn’t harm himself.
According to Brooksby, Robinson was anxious about being apprehended and feared a potential SWAT raid. He ultimately negotiated a “moderate” surrender with law enforcement.
Tubman suggested that Robinson was likely in a state of panic throughout those 33 hours. “It’s possible that he felt despair and didn’t have a clear plan,” he added.
Robinson appeared in court wearing specialized attire designed to prevent self-harm. Amid this complex situation, Tubman remarked that the FBI’s approach was based on rather basic tactics, combining some technology with traditional investigative work.
“It really isn’t that complex,” he concluded. “You just need one good lead to get started.” This leads to gathering evidence from surveillance footage to trace the suspect’s movements.
