Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has been arrested following a 33-hour manhunt that ended with a family-led intervention.
Robinson was taken into custody late Thursday after confessing to his father, who then contacted a youth pastor and U.S. Marshals to facilitate the arrest.
Kirk, 31, was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday during a campus debate. The single bullet struck him in the neck, killing him instantly and sending the crowd of students into panic. The incident has shocked the nation and intensified conversations around political violence and ideological extremism.
Surveillance footage showed Robinson arriving on campus hours before the shooting. Investigators later recovered a Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the university.
Bullet casings found at the scene bore disturbing inscriptions, including “Hey fascist! CATCH!” and “O Bella ciao, Bella ciao,” referencing the Italian anti-fascist resistance song.
Governor Spencer Cox confirmed that Robinson had become increasingly political in recent years. A family member told investigators that Robinson had expressed hatred toward Kirk and his views, particularly in the days leading up to the event.
Messages retrieved from Discord, allegedly sent by Robinson, referenced retrieving a rifle from a “drop point” and included details about the weapon’s location and engraved ammunition. The FBI has since confirmed the rifle’s recovery and linked it to the shooting.
Robinson was arrested in Washington County, Utah, where he lived with his family. He is a third-year student in an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College.
Public records show he was previously registered as a nonpartisan voter and did not vote in the last presidential election.
State prosecutors plan to file formal charges on Tuesday, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm.
President Donald Trump announced the arrest on Friday and called for the death penalty.
Students at Utah Valley University expressed relief at the arrest, though many remain shaken. The campus remains closed, with security heightened and investigations ongoing.
Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has vowed to continue her husband’s mission, saying in a livestream,
“You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife.”