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Tyler Robinson named suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting
Sep
Tyler Robinson named suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting
Officials said Robinson’s dad identified him in photos released by authorities.
Tyler Robinson, the man suspected of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a campus event at a Utah university, had eluded authorities for more than a day.
However, after his father recognized him from photographs distributed by authorities, officials say, a series of events ultimately led to the 22-year-old Robinson being taken into custody.
While there are many unanswered questions about the killing, which officials have called a “political assassination,” information from officials and those who know Robinson have begun to assemble a portrait of the alleged gunman.
Here’s what we know about Robinson, how the shooting was carried out and how he was apprehended.
How Robinson was apprehended
At a press conference on Friday morning, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox stated in his opening remarks, “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We got him.”
Cox said that after Robinson’s father recognized his son in the distributed photographs, he told Robinson to turn himself in. Robinson initially said no but later changed his mind, officials said.
The father then called a youth pastor, who is also a U.S. Marshals task force officer. The officer advised the father to have Robinson stay in place. This information was then conveyed to the FBI.
Cox thanked Robinson’s family, “who did the right thing.”
During the press conference, Cox said that when law enforcement identified Robinson, they also interviewed Robinson’s roommate, who showed them a message between Robinson and his roommate.
“The content of these messages included messages affiliated with the contact Tyler, stating a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush,” Cox said.
The messages also referred to engraving bullets and a mention of a scope and the rifle being unique, authorities said.
The rifle is an older model imported Mauser .30-06 caliber bolt action rifle wrapped in a towel, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News. The location of the firearm appears to match the suspect’s route of travel, the sources said.
What writing on shell casings allegedly said
Cox also described what was engraved on the casings found on the scene.
According to Cox, of the three unfired casings, one read: “Hey fascist! CATCH!” with an arrow symbol pointing up, then to the right, and then three arrows pointing down.
Another unfired casing read “O Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Ciao, ciao!” seemingly in reference to Italian anti-fascist song popularized following World War II and another unfired casing read “If you read this, you are GAY Lmao.”
The meanings of the writings on the casings are unclear. It is also unclear if the writings are meant to be a misdirection or distraction for investigators.
Apart from a reference to fascism, which Cox said “speaks for itself,” he did not elaborate on the meanings of the other writings.
The motives of the suspect remain unclear.
FBI Director Kash Patel said that law enforcement caught Robinson within 33 hours of the shooting and were on scene when the shooting occurred within 16 minutes.
“This is a very much an ongoing investigation, as the governor said, and we will continue to work with state and local authorities to develop the investigation to provide them the evidence they need for their ongoing prosecutions,” Patel said.
What we know about Robinson
At the press conference, Cox said Robinson had become “more political in recent years.”
Robinson mentioned during a dinner conversation with a family member that Kirk would be visiting Utah Valley University, according to Cox. Robinson and the family members discussed why they didn’t like Kirk and his viewpoints, and the family member stated Kirk was “full of hate and spreading hate,” Cox said.
Online voter registration records show that Robinson is registered to vote with no party affiliation.
He is listed as being an “inactive” voter, meaning he has not voted in two regular general elections and did not respond to a notice sent by the county clerk.
