FAQ

Following the assassination attempt on right-wing nationalist podcaster and Trump supporter Charlie Kirk, Tyler R. is in custody. What is known about the man – and what happens next?

What do we know about the suspect?

According to authorities, the man now arrested is a 22-year-old. Tyler R. is from the state of Utah, where Charlie Kirk was also shot dead on a university campus on Wednesday.

Accordingly, the man comes from a Republican family in the strictly conservative city of St. George, about 450 kilometers southwest of the crime scene. According to media reports, the family is said to have belonged to the Mormon faith. R. was in his third year of an electrician apprenticeship. In 2021, he had studied for a semester at Utah State University.

Former classmates described R. to the New York Times as a very good, but rather reserved student. He was said to be hard-working and intelligent, and his classmates liked him. R. also spent a lot of time with comics and video games.

What is known about the motive so far?

Utah's Republican Governor Spencer Cox stated at a press conference that Tyler R. had"become more political" in recent years. According to a family member, he had expressed criticism of Kirk's upcoming appearance in Utah and his ultra-right views. According to authorities, R. was registered to vote in Utah, but not for a particular party. He is said not to have participated in last year's election.

Investigators found cartridge cases with anti-fascist slogans near the crime scene. One cartridge case was engraved with the words"Hey, Fascist! Catch!", while the other bore the words"Bella Ciao," apparently in reference to the anthem of Italian resistance fighters during World War II.

Other cartridges were said to have been marked with symbols and words from online games. It is unclear whether R. has yet commented on his motive since his arrest. According to authorities, he has no criminal record.

What about the murder weapon?

Investigators found the suspected murder weapon wrapped in a cloth in a wooded area near the crime scene. It is believed to be a rifle commonly used for hunting or by army snipers. Three bullets were reportedly still in the magazine.

Was the man in the military?

During the attack, the suspect allegedly fired a single shot from a distance of approximately 180 meters, fatally striking Kirk in the neck. Tyler R. was apparently not in the military. All branches of the US armed forces stated that R. had never been a member of their ranks. However, he reportedly repeatedly posed with family members on social media with various weapons. His parents also reportedly had hunting licenses.

How did the arrest come about?

After the attack, investigating authorities released surveillance camera footage and appealed to the public for information. R.'s father reportedly confronted his son about his resemblance to the mug shots, whereupon the 22-year-old confessed to the crime.

According to Governor Cox, a family member then contacted a family friend, who then informed the police. The arrest took place 33 hours after the attack.

What happens next?

Investigators believe R. acted alone. Following his arrest, R. was formally remanded in custody. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, and charges are expected from the district attorney's office in the coming days. Murder is punishable by death in Utah.

What reactions are there?

Before Tyler R.'s arrest, US President Trump blamed the"radical left" for the death of his supporter and called Kirk a "martyr." In an interview with Fox News on Friday, he reiterated:"The radicals on the left are the problem, and they're vicious and horrible and politically adept." Regarding the suspect himself, Trump said:"I hope he gets the death penalty."

Several Democrats, however, condemned politically motivated violence and called for stricter gun laws. They pointed out that Trump himself regularly uses inflammatory rhetoric to demonize his political opponents, judges, or the media.

Utah Governor Cox called on the country to end politically motivated violence, which affects all sides. Anger is not a political stance, he told young people. The attack was an"attack on the American experiment" and the ideals of the USA.

Kirk's widow, meanwhile, announced that she would continue her husband's political work:"The weeping of this widow will echo throughout the world like a battle cry."