USA: Tyler Robinson in custody after the killing of Charlie Kirk
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested Thursday night following a 33-hour manhunt for the killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot Wednesday while speaking at a campus event. The shooting sent students fleeing and shocked the nation, highlighting America’s deep political divisions.
Robinson surrendered after his father and a family pastor convinced him to turn himself in. President Trump, who announced the arrest, has called for the death penalty.
Governor Spencer Cox said surveillance footage showed Robinson arriving on campus four hours before the shooting. When arrested, he wore clothing matching CCTV images from the scene.
Investigators recovered a scoped Mauser .30-06 rifle wrapped in a towel near campus.
Bullet casings bore inscriptions including “hey fascist! CATCH!” and “O Bella ciao” – referencing an Italian resistance song against Nazi occupation.
Family members told police Robinson had grown increasingly political recently, expressing hatred toward Kirk before the event.
Discord messages linked to Robinson discussed retrieving a rifle from “a drop point.”
Robinson, an electrical apprentice from St. George, faces charges of aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony firearm discharge. The campus remains closed as the investigation continues.
