The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested 33 hours after Kirk was fatally shot in Orem on Wednesday.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has revealed that the prime suspect in the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk is refusing to cooperate with investigators.
The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested 33 hours after Kirk was fatally shot in Orem on Wednesday.
Cox, a Republican, confirmed in an interview with ABC News that Robinson has neither confessed to the murder nor offered any assistance to law enforcement. However, he noted that individuals close to the suspect have been cooperating with the investigation.
Speaking in multiple media appearances on Sunday, Cox also raised concerns about the role of social media in the wake of Kirk’s death.
According to BBC, his comments came amid questions sparked by a New York Times report alleging that Robinson communicated on the Discord messaging platform shortly after the shooting, where he was said to have joked about being the gunman.
"All we can confirm is that those conversations definitely were happening, and they did not believe it was actually him,” Cox told ABC News.
"It was, it was all joking until, until he, you know, until he admitted that it actually was him."
Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was arrested on Thursday night after surrendering to police.
Kirk was shot dead while speaking at Utah Valley University during an open-air event organized by Turning Point USA, the group he co-founded. The engagement was part of his nationwide American Comeback Tour, which had taken him to several college campuses across the United States.
Authorities said Robinson, a Utah native, was influenced by leftist ideology, based on information gathered from those close to him. Utah Governor Spencer Cox indicated that more details will emerge once official charges are filed.
According to an affidavit from the state of Utah, Robinson was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice. He is currently being held without bail at Utah County Jail.
"We're interviewing all kinds of people - everyone that knows him - and trying to learn more about what the motive actually was," Cox said.
Cox disclosed that one of those assisting investigators is Tyler Robinson’s roommate, who he also identified as the suspect’s partner.
He noted that the partner had no prior knowledge of the shooting but has been fully cooperative and is actively working with law enforcement.
Cox further confirmed that the partner is currently undergoing a gender transition. However, when asked by CNN whether this detail has any bearing on the murder investigation, he acknowledged that authorities have not yet determined its relevance.
