Suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing had become ‘more political’, authorities say

The man accused in the Charlie Kirk assassination had earlier expressed to family his opposition to the viewpoints of the conservative activist, authorities said.

Tyler Robinson, 22, had become “more political” in the run-up to the shooting and had indicated to a family friend afterwards that he was responsible, Utah governor Spencer Cox said.

Mr Cox also cited as key pieces of evidence engravings on bullets found in a rifle believed to have been used in the attack, as well as chatting app messages attributed to the shooting suspect that a roommate shared with law enforcement.

Mr Cox, a Republican, called Mr Kirk’s killing an “attack on the American experiment”, and he urged a new generation to “choose a different path”.

Robinson was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice charges, according to a court affidavit.

A judge ordered that he be held without bail. Formal charges are expected early next week.

Robinson is believed to have acted alone, and the investigation is ongoing, Mr Cox said.

“This is our moment: Do we escalate or do we find an off-ramp?” Mr Cox asked during a press conference, making an impassioned plea for young people to bridge differences through common ground rather than violence. “It’s a choice.”

Authorities have yet to reveal a motive, but they did describe evidence they said shed potential light on the killing.

That includes engravings on bullet casings recovered from the high-powered rifle believed used in the attack, including one that said “Hey, fascist! Catch!” Mr Cox said.

In addition, a roommate shared with authorities messages from the chatting app Discord that involved a contact named Tyler and discussed a rifle wrapped in a towel, engraved bullets and a scope, the governor said.

A Mauser .30-caliber, bolt-action rifle was found in a towel in a wooded area along the path investigators believe Robinson took after firing a shot from a distant roof and then fleeing.

The clothes the suspect wore when confronted by law enforcement late on Thursday were consistent with what he had on when he arrived on campus a day earlier, and a family member confirmed that he drove a grey Dodge Challenger like the one seen in surveillance video that recorded Robinson driving to the university on the day of the shooting, Mr Cox said.

Robinson’s father recognised him from the photos released by the FBI and told him to turn himself in. Robinson refused at first, but then changed his mind, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.

His father asked for help from their youth pastor, who also occasionally works with the US Marshals and called the agency so he could turn himself in.

Meanwhile, investigators continued to dig into the background of Robinson, who was admitted to Utah State University, about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City, on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a video of him reading his acceptance letter posted to a family member’s social media account.

However, he attended for only one semester in 2021, a university spokesperson said.

Robinson’s address was still listed as his parent’s home, and he is registered as an unaffiliated voter, according to Utah state records. He does not appear to have a prior criminal record.

The family lives in a suburb of the city of St George in southern Utah, about a three-hour drive south of the Utah Valley University campus where Mr Kirk was shot.

Family members of Robinson did not immediately return messages seeking comment. It was not clear if he had a lawyer.

At his family’s home, window coverings were drawn, and a pickup truck blocked access to the driveway. There was a heavy police presence, with several police vehicles parked along the street, which was closed at both ends.

Robinson’s arrest early on Friday morning was disclosed by President Donald Trump, who said in a Fox News Channel interview that, “with a high degree of certainty, we have him”.

News of the arrest came hours after the FBI and state officials had pleaded for public help by releasing additional photographs of the suspect, a move that seemed to indicate that law enforcement was uncertain of the person’s whereabouts.

Mr Kirk was killed by a single shot in what police said was a targeted attack and Utah’s governor called a political assassination.

Mr Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organisation Turning Point USA, based in Arizona.

Authorities recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle near the scene of the shooting and had said the shooter jumped off a roof and vanished into the nearby woods afterwards.

Mr Kirk had been speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University at the time of Wednesday’s shooting. He was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead hours later.

“He wanted to help young people, and he didn’t deserve this,” Mr Trump said Friday. “He was really a good person.”

Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday had released photos and a video of the person they believe is responsible. Mr Kirk was shot as he spoke to a crowd gathered in a courtyard at the university in Orem.

More than 7,000 leads and tips had poured in, officials said.

The gunman, who investigators believe blended into the campus crowd because of a college-age appearance, fired one shot from the rooftop, according to authorities.

Video released Thursday showed the person then walking through the grass and across the street before disappearing.

“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.

Mr Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning the violence, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the US.

Vice president JD Vance and his wife, Usha, visited with Mr Kirk’s family Thursday in Salt Lake City.

Mr Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and the 2024 election.

“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organise and convene,” Mr Vance wrote.

“He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”

Mr Kirk’s coffin was flown aboard Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix, where his non-profit political youth organisation is based.

Mr Trump told reporters he plans to attend Kirk’s funeral. Details have not been announced.

Mr Kirk’s friends and co-workers were livestreaming his podcast to honour his legacy and share messages from the his supporters.

Turning Point’s spokesman Andrew Kolvet and chief operating officer Tyler Bowyer were on Friday’s show, along with conservative podcaster Jack Posobiec.

Their voices were breaking and some cried as they described how he was texting with some of them moments before he was shot.

“What it was about was, what are the good arguments in favour of marriage, the Christian version of marriage,” said Blake Neff, a former writer for Tucker Carlson who travelled with Mr Kirk.

Mr Kirk espoused a view of marriage in which a husband is the head of a household while a wife is focused on raising children and supporting her spouse, as long as the man follows scripture.