The manhunt for the shooter who killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk ended in a shocking twist when a Utah father recognised his own son in surveillance images shared by authorities.
The suspect, seen wearing a black T-shirt with an eagle and American flag, was caught on camera leaping off a university building roof and fleeing into nearby woods after the attack. His face was partly hidden by sunglasses and a baseball cap.
But the father thought he knew him.
“Tyler, is that you? It looks like you,” he asked, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the case.
Authorities say 22-year-old Tyler Robinson then admitted to his father that he was the shooter. He reportedly told him, “I’d rather kill myself than turn myself in.”
The father persuaded Robinson to confide in a young pastor who works with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals Service. A family friend later contacted deputies, who alerted the FBI and Utah County officials.
That same night, just hours after state and federal officials held a press conference asking the public for help, Robinson was taken into custody at 10 p.m. local time.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced Friday morning, “We got him.”
The FBI had received over 7,000 tips in the 30 hours after the shooting, the most since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. But it was one lead, from Robinson’s father and a family friend, that cracked the case.
A 30-hour nationwide search
Investigators say Robinson shot Kirk from a rooftop during an event at Utah Valley University, attended by 3,000 people. He fired from nearly 150 yards away, striking Kirk in the neck and killing him.
The search involved 20 agencies, nearly 200 interviews, a $100,000 reward, and two false arrests before authorities confirmed they had the right suspect.
Video of the shooting, showing panicked crowds running, spread rapidly on social media and heightened pressure on investigators.
On Thursday night, former President Donald Trump said investigators were making “major progress.” He vowed, “We will find you, we will try you, and we will hold you accountable.”
By Friday morning, officials confirmed that Robinson’s arrest fulfilled that promise.
How investigators closed in
Surveillance footage showed Robinson arriving on campus in a Gray Dodge Challenger just hours before the shooting. He later changed into the black eagle T-shirt before climbing to the roof.
After the shooting, Robinson changed clothes again, leaving behind palm prints, smudges, and shoe impressions that helped police gather evidence.
When arrested, he was wearing clothes similar to those seen on video before the attack. Relatives also confirmed he drove a Challenger like the one spotted at the scene.
Investigators also reviewed messages Robinson allegedly sent on Discord, where he talked about retrieving a rifle, leaving it in bushes, and wrapping it in a towel. They later recovered a bolt-action rifle engraved with taunts like “Hey fascist! Catch!”
Court documents show Robinson, a third-year student in an electrical apprenticeship program, had become more politically vocal in recent years. He reportedly told family members he opposed Kirk’s views. Voting records show he was not affiliated with any party and had not voted in recent elections.
Facing trial
Robinson is being held without bail at the Utah County Jail. He faces charges including aggravated murder, firearm offences, and obstruction of justice. He is expected in court Tuesday.
Sources told CNN that Robinson initially spoke to investigators but stopped after hiring a lawyer.
Governor Cox has said prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
“This happened because of one person,” he said. “That person is now in custody and will be held accountable.”
