22-year-old accused of fatally shooting conservative activist during university event.
Authorities have identified Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old student from Utah, as the suspect in the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
Law enforcement sources told the Daily Mail that Robinson was arrested Thursday night in southern Utah after an intense manhunt that lasted more than a day. Surveillance footage showed the gunman fleeing across rooftops moments after Kirk was shot in front of hundreds of students.
Investigators say Robinson confessed the killing to his father, Matt Robinson, a longtime deputy with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. His father immediately contacted law enforcement and helped ensure his son was in custody. Robinson’s mother, Amber, works for a state-contracted care service supporting disabled individuals.
Robinson lived in Washington, Utah, in a six-bedroom home with his family and attended Utah State University on scholarship. Family photos shared online portray him as a devoted son and brother, with snapshots of vacations, celebrations, and even a Halloween costume dressed as Donald Trump in 2017. Other images showed him using firearms during his youth, including one with a heavy machine gun.
A motive has not yet been determined. Officials stated Thursday night that Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted.
Kirk, 31, was answering audience questions at his “American Comeback” tour stop when he was struck by a single bullet from about 200 yards away. He collapsed immediately and later died at a hospital. The married father of two was a leading figure in the MAGA movement, widely recognized for founding Turning Point USA and for his outspoken debates on college campuses nationwide.
President Donald Trump honored Kirk on Truth Social, calling him “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk,” and expressing condolences to his wife, Erika, and their two young children. On Fox News, Trump also confirmed the suspect’s arrest, saying “someone very close” to Robinson had turned him in.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox vowed accountability, writing, “Abby and I are heartbroken. We are praying for Charlie’s wife, daughter, and son.”
