Tyler Robinson, 22, arrested after killing activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university; suspect’s father turned him in to authorities.
American teenager Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested yesterday for allegedly killing activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university. He was a student and the son of a police veteran.
Tyler is the oldest of three sons, and parts of his daily life were shared by his mother, Amber Jones Robinson, on social media. He lived in Washington County, over 400 km from the crime scene. The arrest occurred in St. George, Utah.
The young man studied at Utah State University and performed well academically, reportedly on a scholarship. Despite becoming “more political” in recent years, he had no party affiliation and did not vote in the last two elections.
Tyler had commented on Charlie Kirk’s visit to Utah shortly before the crime. Relatives said he called Kirk “full of hate and spreading hate.”
A bullet casing from the crime weapon had the message: “Hey fascist, take this!”. Other bullets included messages like “If you’re reading this, you are gay” and “Bella Ciao”, referencing the Italian anti-fascist song.
The suspect reportedly confessed the crime to his father, a veteran of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, who held him with the help of a pastor until police arrived.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox thanked the suspect’s family: “I want to thank his family, who did the right thing and turned him in,” he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated he “expects the death penalty” in this case: “They have the death penalty in Utah, and there’s a great governor there. He is very supportive of the death penalty in this case.”
Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck on Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was rescued but died during surgery. His death was confirmed by the U.S. president on social media.
Before Tyler’s arrest, two suspects were detained and released after questioning. The FBI confirmed they were not connected to the crime.
Charlie Kirk was the leader of Turning Point USA, a conservative organization that mobilizes young voters in universities and promotes conservative values in the U.S. He had over 14 million social media followers, was married, and had two children.
Kirk also hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, aired on around 150 radio stations and as a podcast on various audio platforms.
