BREAKING: Kirk assassination suspect used far-left slogans, recently became increasingly political
Law enforcement officials have identified Tyler Robinson, a 22-year old Utah resident, as the suspect in custody.
This is a developing story. Watch for further updates.
WATCH: Utah Governor Spencer Cox provides details on the suspect and his arrest.
Authorities say a family tip led them to the man accused of killing U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk, bringing a swift end to a two-day manhunt.
At a Friday morning news conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said investigators arrested Tyler Robinson in Washington County in the early hours of September 12 after relatives contacted police.
A family member told a friend that Robinson confessed or strongly implied he carried out the shooting. The friend then alerted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which relayed the information to Utah County deputies and the FBI.
A roommate later showed detectives Discord messages allegedly sent by Robinson. The texts referred to retrieving a rifle from a drop point, leaving it wrapped in a towel, and engraved ammunition.
Police say they recovered a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle with a scope near campus, along with spent and live casings engraved with taunts, including “Hey fascist! Catch!”, “O Bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao” referring to lyrics from an Italian ‘anti-fascist’ song popularized in recent years by far left activists, and other crude phrases.
Investigators interviewed a family member of Robinson who stated that Robinson had become more political in recent years, referencing a recent incident over dinner where Robinson specifically mentioned Kirk’s upcoming visit to Utah Valley University.
Earlier in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he believed with “a high degree of certainty” that the suspect in the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk is in custody.
Investigators reviewed additional surveillance video from Utah Valley University and identified Robinson arriving on campus September 10 in a grey Dodge Challenger wearing a maroon T-shirt, light shorts, a black hat with a white logo and light shoes.
He was dressed as seen in the footage when officers approached him in Washington County early Thursday.
Gov. Cox thanked the public and Robinson’s relatives for their help and expressed condolences to Kirk’s family.
“This is a very sad day for our country and a terrible day for the state of Utah,” Cox said, adding that the family of Charlie Kirk “will be involved as we move through this process.”
Patel said FBI agents arrived 16 minutes after the 12:23 p.m. shooting, deployed aircraft to move technicians and evidence, and released the suspect’s photos by 10 a.m. on Sept. 11.
A $100,000 reward was announced less than an hour later.
“In 33 hours, we have made historic progress for Charlie,” Patel said.
Authorities say Robinson is in custody as the investigation continues.
Charges have not been detailed.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he believes with “high degree of certainty” that the suspect in the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk is in custody.
During a live broadcast of ‘Fox and Friends’ on Fox News, Trump announced that he doesn't want to say for certain, but “ I think with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody.”
Trump said a minister, who recognized the suspect and with connections to law enforcement, helped turn him in.
“It was a minister, and the minister went to a friend, a minister who was involved with law enforcement, by the way, and his good friend is a top US Marshal, and they took it from there,” he said.
He said the father of the suspect got involved as well. He warned that more information will be known later but “those are the facts we have.”
“They drove into the police headquarters, and he's there now,” Trump said.
“Everyone did a great job. We worked with the local police, the Governor. Everybody did a great job,” he said. "Essentially, somebody that was very close to him turned him in.”
Trump said he was informed of the news five minutes before he went on air for the prescheduled interview that someone was in custody.
Law enforcement has yet to confirm the arrest or offer any details. Officials are set to provide an update shortly (watch live HERE).
In the latest video of the suspect, which was played during a news conference with state and federal officials Thursday evening, the apparent gunman can be seen climbing down from the roof of a building on the campus of Utah Valley University where authorities believe he fired the fatal shot and fled rom the scene.
The FBI said it is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person responsible for Kirk's murder.
WATCH President Trump’s interview on Fox News
WATCH law enforcement’s Friday morning LIVE update on the Kirk assassination
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Think about how the same crime against an outspoken Conservative would be handled in Canada. I'd imagine a much slower and less coordinated response, a far less intense effort to see real justice carried out, and a pile of after-the-fact excuses, contradictions, and redacted documents rather than answers to any questions or complaints. You can also decide for yourselves what the national media coverage would have been through it all, and whether the punishment would fit the crime, if the criminal were caught.
Hope they got the right guy.
I know that Kirk was a good Christian however.
If/When they do get the right guy and all the i's have been dotted and t's crossed.
Might I suggest draw and quarter and head on a pike.
Utah after all does the the death penalty and I am sure the guy with the horns and tail has something special for this guy.
At least I hope so.