The murder of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University has shaken the American public, as new details emerge about the alleged perpetrator, Tyler Robinson, and the circumstances surrounding the crime.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, in an interview with Fox News, the suspect wrote in a message prior to the attack that he intended to kill the conservative influencer."I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it," he said, according to Patel.
The official specified that the note was found in the home of Robinson's partner and that, although the document was destroyed,"we found forensic evidence of it and confirmed what it said thanks to our aggressive stance in the interviews with the FBI", he explained.
The investigation has advanced with the identification of physical evidence linking Robinson to the crime scene. Patel detailed that “DNA matching Robinson’s was found at the location where Kirk’s shooter fired, as well as on the towel that covered the murder weapon when the killer threw it into the woods,” according to his statements to Fox News. The FBI director also confirmed that the 22-year-old suspect “is not cooperating with investigators following his arrest on Friday.”
Robinson's arrest came after his father intervened, persuading him to surrender to authorities. Meanwhile, investigators continue to gather information about the motive for the attack.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told ABC News that Robinson “did not like Kirk and may have been ‘radicalized’ online.” Cox cited as clues the engravings on shell casings found in the rifle used and chat app messages attributed to the suspect, which a roommate gave to police.
Family and friends of Robinson have described a shift in his political orientation in recent years, leaning left and spending “inordinate amounts of time surfing the ‘dark corners of the internet,’” Cox told ABC News. The governor also noted that “the roommate was his romantic partner, a man transitioning to a woman,” and noted that “he’s been incredibly cooperative; this couple has been very cooperative; I had no idea this was even happening.”
Social media and messaging platforms played a significant role in the aftermath of the crime. Cox confirmed that Robinson “was actively joking with acquaintances on the messaging platform Discord after they noticed he resembled Kirk’s shooter.”
The governor told ABC News that “those conversations were definitely happening. And they didn’t believe it was him; it was all a joke until he admitted it was him.”
According to messages obtained by The New York Times, the interaction on Discord included the posting of surveillance footage and directly mentioning Robinson's user. One participant wrote “wya” — short for “where are you?” — alongside a skull emoji, to which Robinson almost immediately responded, “My doppelganger is trying to get me in trouble.” Another user, mockingly, wrote, “Tyler killed Charlie!” in the group chat.
Robinson's identification and arrest took nearly two days, during which time authorities released surveillance images of the suspect, who was wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt, long pants, sunglasses, and a baseball cap with a triangle, according to the official report.
Gov. Cox reiterated on several newscasts that investigators are still trying to determine the motive for the attack and said new information could emerge after Robinson's court appearance Tuesday. As part of the investigation, officers interviewed the suspect's family members and executed a search warrant at the family's home in Washington, Utah, about 240 miles (386 kilometers) southwest of Utah Valley University.
State records show Robinson is registered to vote, though he is not affiliated with any political party and is listed as inactive, indicating he did not participate in the last two general elections. His parents, on the other hand, are registered Republicans. Academically, Robinson was an honor roll student in high school, scoring in the 99th percentile nationally on standardized tests, and was admitted to Utah State University in 2021 on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a family video.
However, the university confirmed that he only attended one semester. Robinson is currently in his third year of the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George.
Robinson's arrest was on suspicion of capital murder, weapons offenses and obstruction, and he was expected to be formally charged Tuesday ahead of his initial court appearance.
Amid the grief, Erika, Kirk's widow, offered her first public remarks since the murder. From the office where her husband hosted his podcast, she recalled: “He loved America, nature, and the Chicago Cubs. But most of all, Charlie loved his children and loved me with all his heart,” Erika said. Addressing those she holds responsible for the crime, she said: “You have no idea the fire you have lit in this wife. This widow's cries will echo around the world like a battle cry.”
