Utah’s governor on Friday identified Tyler Robinson as the suspect in the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, following an intensive nationwide manhunt.
“We’ve got him,” Governor Spencer Cox declared at a press conference.
Cox confirmed Robinson’s arrest after one of his relatives confided in a friend, who then alerted the police.
The breakthrough offered a bitterly divided United States a glimmer of answers in the shocking political murder that took place on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Kirk died after a single bullet struck his neck while he addressed a packed audience at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Kirk was a powerful voice on the American far right, cultivating a large youth following that aided Donald Trump’s election victory last November.
President Trump immediately treated the killing of his close ally as a matter of national importance, ordering flags to fly at half-mast and pledging to attend the funeral.
Though critics accused Kirk of extreme views on race, gender and guns, even opponents acknowledged his willingness to debate.
Authorities have yet to establish a motive, but Cox noted that unused bullet casings carried anti-fascist slogans. One read, “Hey, fascist! Catch!” while another bore the phrase “Bella ciao,” a nod to a wartime Italian resistance song. Other cartridges showed markings linked to online gaming culture.
Breakthrough in manhunt
It took authorities 33 hours to capture Robinson. Investigators quickly located the alleged murder weapon—a high-powered hunting rifle—and circulated images of a man in casual clothing and a baseball cap.
After mistakenly detaining two unrelated individuals, the police and FBI urged the public for help. Officials in Orem later released more detailed descriptions of the suspect’s clothing and movements.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest took place at 10:00 pm on Thursday. Cox credited Robinson’s family for providing the crucial lead.
“On the evening of 11 September, a family member of Tyler Robinson contacted a friend, who then informed the Washington County sheriff’s office that Robinson had confessed or implied he carried out the shooting,” Cox explained.
Students expressed shock and fear at the university. Dave Sanchez, 26, told AFP that watching the killing made him feel “sick to my stomach.”
“It feels like losing a family member,” he added.
Hundreds later gathered in Orem Park for a vigil, wearing red MAGA caps and carrying American flags. “It still feels insane,” said Jonathan Silva, 35. “Totally surreal.”
Death penalty sought
President Trump demanded the death penalty for the gunman. In a sign of the killing’s political weight, Vice President JD Vance used his official plane to return Kirk’s coffin to Phoenix, Kirk’s home city.
Footage showed Vance resting his hands on the casket as it was carried onto Air Force Two.
Kirk, father of two, co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to champion conservative youth activism. His flair for showmanship made him a frequent guest on television networks.
He harnessed TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to push anti-immigration policies, outspoken Christianity and gun ownership, often sharing carefully edited debate clips from his numerous campus appearances.