Following the assassination attempt on right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, authorities have arrested the suspect. At a press conference, Utah's governor explains who provided the crucial tip about the 22-year-old – and what political messages were found on the weapon.
Following the assassination attempt on US activist and confidant of Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, the suspect has been arrested. The US President initially announced the arrest, and later the FBI confirmed that the wanted suspect had been taken into custody."We have him," said Utah Governor Spencer Cox at a press conference.
What is known about the suspect: He is a 22-year-old from the US state of Utah. The suspect's name is Tyler Robinson, Utah Governor Cox announced.
How he was caught: A family member of the suspect contacted a family friend. This friend then contacted the sheriff's office and informed officers that Robinson had confessed or implied that he had committed the murder.
What is known about the motive: Robinson has become more political in recent years, Cox said. At a dinner, he mentioned Charlie Kirk's appearance at the University of Utah and also said that he rejected Kirk's political positions.
The FBI seized the murder weapon and unused magazines. Cox said the magazines contained political messages."Hey, fascist! Catch this," they read."O bella, ciao! bella, ciao! bella, ciao, ciao, ciao!" and "If you're reading this, you're gay LMAO," were other messages.
The Evidence: Governor Cox presented in detail the various pieces of evidence provided by investigators. He stated that Robinson had chat messages in which he mentioned a weapon he needed to retrieve. He also stated that he was wearing similar clothing during his arrest to the person in the video released by the FBI regarding the manhunt.
Further details: The suspect is not a student at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot, Cox said. He was a longtime resident of Washington County with his family.
What Trump said: The US President had previously announced the arrest during an appearance on Fox News. He said someone close to the suspect had betrayed him. He recognized the wanted man from photos."Someone very close to him said, 'That's him.'" Trump explicitly praised the authorities' work.
The assassination and the manhunt
The suspect in the Kirk case was intensively searched for days. The FBI released photos and a video showing the suspect on the run. The federal police also offered a $100,000 (just over €85,000) reward for information leading to the perpetrator's capture.
Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old podcaster and supporter of US President Trump, was shot and killed on Wednesday during a performance at a university in Utah. Kirk was a co-founder of the organization Turning Point USA and was considered Trump's voice for youth.
Investigators believe Kirk was fatally wounded in the neck with a single shot fired from a distance of approximately 180 meters. Officials recovered the suspected murder weapon. The FBI said it was a precision weapon, such as those used by hunters or military snipers.
Trump attributed the attack to political polarization in the US and blamed the"radical left" for it. He also ordered US flags to be flown at half-staff until Sunday in honor of Kirk. Numerous politicians, both Democratic and Republican, condemned the attack.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump also said he hopes the perpetrator will receive the death penalty. Earlier, Utah's Republican governor, Spencer Cox, said Thursday evening (local time) that preparations were underway to request the death penalty. He believes it was a"political assassination."
with dpa/AFP
