 "A police mugshot shows Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the fatal shooting of US conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Reuters")
A combination of online messages, unusual bullet casings and university surveillance footage enabled investigators to identify 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, authorities confirmed.
After several days of investigation and public appeals, Robinson was arrested late on Thursday night in Utah’s Washington County.
Discord chats revealed plans
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Robinson’s online activity provided the crucial breakthrough.
Investigators gained access to his Discord chats through his roommate, which allegedly contained discussions about retrieving and concealing a rifle.
The conversations referred to hiding the weapon in bushes, wrapping it in a towel, monitoring the area, and even engraving bullets. Officers photographed the incriminating messages directly from the device.
Rifle and engraved bullets recovered
Police later discovered a bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel near the scene. Alongside it were three unfired casings engraved with the chilling phrase, “Hey, fascist! Catch!” and arrow symbols. Cox confirmed the bullets matched details contained in the Discord exchanges.
CCTV from Utah Valley University (UVU) showed Robinson arriving in a Dodge Challenger on the morning of the attack. He was dressed in a maroon T-shirt, shorts, a black cap and light shoes—the same clothing investigators noted when they encountered him the following day.
Family concerns raised
Relatives told police that Robinson had spoken critically of Kirk in recent weeks. At a family dinner, he allegedly mentioned Kirk’s forthcoming UVU appearance and voiced strong disapproval of his views.
Cox said Robinson had become increasingly political in recent years and was openly hostile towards conservative figures.
A family friend later contacted authorities, claiming Robinson had either confessed or strongly implied his involvement in the shooting.
Cox added that his arrest was secured after investigators tied his clothing and movements to the surveillance evidence, alongside the Discord messages.
Kirk shot from rooftop
Kirk, 31, was killed by a single bullet fired from a rooftop while addressing a crowd of about 3,000 people at UVU in Orem. A co-founder of Turning Point USA and a close ally of Donald Trump, he was known for his polarising speeches and hardline stances on race, immigration, gender identity and gun rights.
Charges expected next week
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray’s office said it is reviewing all evidence and intends to file charges on Tuesday. If formally charged, Robinson will make his first court appearance the same day via a virtual hearing. Gray is expected to announce the charges at a noon press conference.
Trump calls for death penalty
Earlier on Friday, Trump said he had just learnt of the arrest while preparing for a live Fox & Friends interview. “I think with a high degree of certainty we have him in custody,” Trump said, adding that Kirk’s killer “should receive the death penalty.”
FBI footage and reward
During the manhunt, the FBI had released video footage showing the suspect running across a roof, climbing down and fleeing. A $100,000 reward was also offered for information leading to an arrest. Two other people were briefly detained as persons of interest but later released.
Bipartisan condemnation
The assassination has drawn strong condemnation from across the political spectrum, with leaders warning of escalating political violence in the United States. Cox urged the public to ignore the “tremendous disinformation” circulating online.
Kirk’s body flown home
On Thursday evening, Kirk’s casket arrived in Arizona, his home state, aboard Air Force Two. Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha, accompanied Kirk’s widow, Erika, as the casket was received. Kirk’s family and Turning Point USA are both based in Arizona.
A divisive figure
Kirk was widely regarded as a divisive figure, credited with mobilising young conservatives through Trump’s MAGA movement. He frequently courted controversy, calling for a ban on transgender healthcare, describing Muslim immigration as “civilisational suicide,” and spreading conspiracy theories about Trump’s 2020 election defeat.