NEW YORK, USA — Authorities in Utah have arrested a 22-year-old man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a public event at Utah Valley University (UVU) this week.
The arrest was first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump during a live appearance on Fox & Friends on Friday, September 12, 2025.
“I think with a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump said.
“In custody. Essentially, someone that was very close to him turned him in.”
Officials later confirmed the suspect as Tyler Robinson, a native of St. George, Utah, who was detained Thursday, September 11, 2025, after a 33-hour manhunt.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox told reporters, “We got him,” adding that Robinson will be formally charged on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck on Wednesday while addressing about 3,000 people at an outdoor “Prove Me Wrong” event on UVU’s campus.
He later died of his injuries, Trump was the first to publicly announce.
According to investigators, Robinson’s father recognised him from images circulated by the FBI and confronted him.
Robinson reportedly confessed to his father, who contacted a family friend and youth pastor for help.
The pastor, also a court security officer, then alerted U.S. Marshals, leading to Robinson’s arrest.
Governor Cox said surveillance footage showed Robinson arriving at the university in a grey Dodge Challenger nearly four hours before the shooting.
Messages retrieved from his Discord account indicated plans to recover a rifle from a “drop point.”
The suspected murder weapon, a Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle fitted with a scope, was later recovered wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near campus.
Shell casings found at the scene carried inscriptions including “hey fascist! CATCH!” and “O Bella ciao, Bella ciao,” a reference to the Italian anti-fascist song.
Cox added that investigators had interviewed family members who described Robinson as increasingly political and critical of Kirk.
“The family member referenced a recent incident … Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU,” Cox said.
“There was a mention of how ‘Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.’”
Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, according to a Utah County Sheriff inmate booking sheet.
FBI Director Kash Patel said federal agents processed the large crime scene quickly and collected forensic evidence, including DNA from palm prints and shoe impressions left by the suspect as he fled.
“Just last night, the suspect was taken into custody at 10pm local time,” Patel said, confirming the end of a sweeping investigation that reviewed 11,000 leads.
Utah officials emphasised that while the arrest marked a breakthrough, the investigation would continue.
“Now that we have him in custody, the investigation doesn’t stop,” said Beau Mason, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Robinson is expected to appear in court next week as prosecutors prepare to file formal charges.
