Tyler Robinson, 22, is in custody after being named the suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Robinson, who is from Washington, Utah, had registered to vote without any party affiliation and had not cast a ballot in the last two general elections. But a family member told investigators he had recently become more political, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said on Friday. That family member said Robinson had expressed anger toward Kirk in particular.
Authorities are calling Kirk’s killing a “political assassination.” Investigators found a rifle near the scene with ammunition engraved with anti-fascist messages. One casing said, “Hey fascist! Catch!” Another appeared to reference an Italian anti-fascist song.
Robinson grew up in Washington, a suburb of St. George. He graduated from Pine View High School in 2021 with strong grades and won a scholarship to Utah State University. But records show he dropped out after just one semester.
Voter files list him as unaffiliated and “inactive,” meaning he had not voted in the two most recent general elections.
Social media photos show Robinson wearing gray Converse sneakers and sunglasses, items that look like those worn by the suspect in law enforcement images released earlier this week.
Cox said a family member reached out to a friend Thursday night, telling them Robinson had confessed or hinted at being behind the shooting. That tip led the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to Robinson, who was arrested around 10 p.m. Thursday after a 33-hour manhunt, FBI Director Kash Patel said.
The shooting took place Wednesday afternoon at Utah Valley University, about three and a half hours from Robinson’s hometown. Kirk was hosting a campus event as part of his American Comeback Tour.
According to Cox, Robinson had even mentioned Kirk’s upcoming Utah Valley event during a recent family dinner. He criticized Kirk’s views, saying the activist was “full of hate and spreading hate,” the family member told investigators.
The bolt-action rifle left in a wooded area near campus carried more engravings. Some linked to anti-fascist themes, such as “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao,” lyrics from an Italian protest song. Others looked like online trolling, including one that read, “If you read this, you are gay LMAO.”
A Utah State University spokesperson confirmed Robinson’s brief enrollment in 2021. His mother had even posted a Facebook video celebrating the scholarship that got him there.
Kirk also had a Utah State event planned for September 30.
