Utah Man, 22, in Custody in Connection With Charlie Kirk Shooting

“We got him,” announced Utah Gov. Spencer Cox during a news conference Friday morning about the suspect in custody in connection with the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The suspect is a 22-year-old from Utah whom authorities have identified as Tyler Robinson.

Robinson, 22, had indicated to a family friend afterwards that he was responsible, said Cox. The suspect’s father saw surveillance photos and worked with a pastor to encourage the surrender in Kirk’s killing, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to the Associated Press to discuss an ongoing investigation.

Cox cited as key pieces of evidence engravings on bullets found in a rifle believed used in the attack as well as chatting app messages attributed to the accused shooter that a roommate shared with law enforcement after the shooting.

Robinson also had earlier expressed to family his opposition to Kirk’s viewpoints, the authorities said Friday in announcing an arrest in a targeted killing that raised fresh alarms about political violence in the United States.

He was arrested Thursday night.

Tyler James Robinson was admitted to Utah State University on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a video of him reading his acceptance letter posted to a family member’s social media account. A university spokesperson says he attended for only one semester in 2021.

Utah state records say Robinson was registered as a voter but not affiliated with either political party.

President Donald Trump had disclosed the arrest early Friday morning, saying that “with a high degree of certainty,” the suspect in Kirk’s killing has been caught.

“I think with a high degree of certainty we have him,” he said in a live interview on Fox News Chanel, adding that a minister also involved with law enforcement turned in the suspect. “Somebody that was very close to him said, ‘Hmm, that’s him,’” Trump said.

Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative political activist and co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was fatally struck in the neck by an assassin’s bullet during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, hosted by his nonprofit political organization. He was discussing mass shootings in the United States at the moment he was shot.

Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday had released photos and a video of the person they believe is responsible. More than 7,000 leads and tips had poured in, officials said.

The Utah governor referenced the rapid spread of graphic video of Kirk’s fatal shooting, along with the recent release of video of a deadly stabbing on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina. He said Americans aren’t used to seeing such graphic imagery. He encouraged people to step away from their devices and spend time with family instead.

“This is not good for us. It is not good to consume,” Cox said. “Social media is a cancer on our society right now.”

Cox said some people have asked why there have been so many resources dedicated to investigating Kirk’s killing when there’s violence around the country, but the governor said it is “much bigger than an attack on an individual. It is an attack on all of us.” The Republican said Kirk’s killing is “an attack on the American experiment” and values, and “cuts to the very foundation of who we are.”

Near the end of his Fox interview, Trump said he’d been holding a meeting about building the new White House ballroom when his aides interrupted.

“They came in and they said, ‘Charlie Kirk is dead.’ I didn’t know what they meant. I said, ‘What do you mean, dead?’” Trump said.

”‘Charlie Kirk was shot.’ And they thought it was dead because it was so horrific.”

Trump said he swiftly ended his meeting. “I just told these people, ‘Get out, you gotta go.’”

Vice President J.D. Vance credited Utah officials and the FBI for their efforts in capturing the suspected shooter. “We took a big step this morning in getting justice for Charlie, and for his family. Thanks be to God for that,” Vance wrote.

The assassination offers the latest example of how ordinary security measures can be defeated in an era of escalating political violence, when anyone associated with the political process is a potential target. Security experts interviewed by AP questioned whether the event was sufficiently staffed but also acknowledged the limitations of both campus police forces and outdoor venues.

This is a developing story. THR staff contributed to this report.