Suspect Identified in the Killing of Charlie Kirk
The suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk, the influential founder of the right-wing youth activist group Turning Point USA, has been identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed this during a press conference on Thursday morning, alongside representatives from the FBI.
“We got him,” said Cox, highlighting the significant development in the ongoing investigation. More details are expected to be released in the coming days.
President Donald Trump, during an interview on Fox and Friends on Friday morning, expressed confidence that the suspect had been caught. “I think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody,” he stated. However, Trump cautioned that the information was still preliminary, adding that he had received the update just five minutes before stepping onto the set. He also mentioned that the suspect had been turned in by someone close to Kirk.
The FBI released a video of the suspect along with additional photos on Thursday night, urging the public to come forward with any relevant information. The footage shows a person running across a building roof at Utah Valley University, where they are believed to have shot at Kirk. The individual is seen climbing down from the roof and then walking toward a road.
According to the FBI, the suspect left shoe impressions on the rooftop, as well as a forearm and palm print. Additionally, the ammunition and weapon used in the attack were found in a nearby wooded area. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has pledged to pursue the death penalty once the suspect is apprehended.
Public Involvement and Investigation Efforts
A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual(s) responsible for Kirk’s murder. At a late press conference on Thursday, Gov. Cox shared that the FBI had received over 7,000 tips in relation to the manhunt, with 200 interviews conducted so far.
Cox also warned about the spread of disinformation, particularly on social media. “There is a tremendous amount of disinformation we are tracking… Our adversaries want violence,” he said. He referenced a quote from Kirk, suggesting that people should put their phones down and spend time with their families during such times.
Beau Mason, Commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, provided an overview of the investigation during a previous press conference. According to Mason, the shooter arrived near campus just before noon on Wednesday and was tracked taking stairwells onto a campus roof. From there, they fled into a nearby neighborhood. Authorities are working with residents in those areas to access doorbell camera footage in hopes of identifying the suspect.
Ongoing Developments and Uncertainty
Despite these efforts, a motive for the crime has not yet been publicly identified. Law enforcement officials previously stated that two individuals had been detained but later released, with no current ties to the shooting found. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that a person taken into custody hours earlier had been released after interrogation.
“Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in the interest of transparency,” Patel wrote on X.
Earlier on Wednesday, Utah Valley University initially reported that a suspect was in custody, but later clarified that the person was not the shooter. The FBI emphasized its collaboration with local and state law enforcement partners in Utah to fully investigate and seek justice. They encouraged anyone with information, photos, or video from the incident to come forward.
Kirk’s shooting, which occurred roughly 20 minutes after he began speaking to a crowd of around 3,000 people at the university in Orem, Utah, has raised concerns about the increasing prevalence of political violence in the U.S. The incident has drawn condemnation from figures across the political spectrum. Some on the right, including Trump, who was a friend and ally of Kirk, have attempted to blame the political left, despite no suspect having been officially identified.
