The details are unimaginable: Following the fatal attack on well-known Trump supporter Charlie Kirk, a 22-year-old student was arrested. He is Tyler Robinson from Utah. As authorities announced at a press conference on Friday, Robinson was betrayed by a family friend – a youth pastor.
Robinson's father reportedly recognized his son in the mug shots and demanded that he turn himself in. He also called a friend, a youth pastor, for help. He, in turn, informed the police, reports CNN.
“Hey fascist, catch!”
According to Utah Governor Spencer Cox (50), who chaired the press conference, Robinson reportedly said in a conversation with family members before Charlie Kirk's (†31) visit to Utah that the podcaster and Trump supporter was"full of hate" – a hint of his motive. Robinson was seen in video footage entering the university campus four hours before the fatal shooting, wearing the clothes of the assassin, who was later photographed.
▶︎ Particularly disturbing: various phrases were engraved on cartridge cases in the magazine of the murder weapon, including"Hey fascist, fang" and "Bella Ciao" – a reference to an old partisan song sung by Italian fighters during World War II while fighting against Nazi Germany.
Cox himself became emotional at the press conference, at times fighting back tears. This wasn't just an attack against a single person, but"against all of us," Cox said."Violence is tragic—no matter where. We're seeing violence all over the country right now." But political violence is different from other violence. It suppresses freedom of opinion and speech."I've never been as angry and sad as I have been in the last few hours," Cox said.
Trump: “I didn’t want to see it”
US President Donald Trump announced the student's arrest on Fox News on Friday morning. He said at the time that"a person very close to the suspect" had betrayed him.
The extent to which the death of his friend and supporter Charlie Kirk affects the US President himself was also made clear. Trump announced that he refused to watch the video of Kirk's assassination circulating on social media."I didn't see it. I didn't want to see it. I heard about it," he said."I would never have been a good doctor. Let's put it this way... No, I mean... I've heard enough."
Reward of $100,000
Tyler Robinson's arrest came just one day after the assassination attempt on Kirk, who leaves behind his wife and two young children. According to the prestigious New York Times, police arrested Robinson Thursday evening in St. George near Zion National Park, about 400 kilometers from the campus where Kirk was killed.
Authorities had previously offered a reward of $100,000 (€85,359) for information leading to his arrest. Whether the youth pastor will receive the money remains unclear.
Robinson faces the death penalty
The only thing that is certain is that the 22-year-old student faces the death penalty in Utah. According to Trump, Governor Cox has already indicated that he will seek the death penalty for Kirk's shooter. In an interview with"Fox & Friends," Trump said: "I hope he is found guilty and receives the death penalty. Charlie Kirk was a great man and he didn't deserve this," several US media outlets quoted him as saying.
Robinson allegedly shot Kirk in the neck on Wednesday at Utah Valley University (south of Salt Lake City) in the middle of a discussion with approximately 3,000 attendees. He allegedly fired a single shot from an elevated position about 180 meters from the tent. The US President has ordered all American flags flown at half-staff until Sunday evening in Kirk's honor.
