The man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk was being held Friday at the Utah County jail. Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice charges, according to a court affidavit. A judge ordered that he be held without bail. Formal charges are expected early next week.
Robinson recently and , said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. The governor also cited as key pieces of evidence engravings on bullets found in a rifle believed to have been used in the attack, as well as chatting app messages that a roommate shared with law enforcement after the shooting.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says, of Charlie Kirk suspect, "we got him." Cox said the assassination suspect had grown more political and was opposed to Kirk鈥檚 beliefs, and that he had indicated to a family friend that he was connected to the shooting. (Sept. 12, 2025)
AP VideoCox said . He would not say if Robinson is cooperating with authorities. The suspect鈥檚 father saw surveillance photos and , according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
The assassination shows how in this era of escalating political violence, when anyone associated with the political process is a potential target.
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A message left on an American flag
On Friday, police still picked through the scene of the assassination, around to the canopy tent where Charlie Kirk had been speaking.
The seats of the amphitheater were cleared of the backpacks and belongings that attendees had left as they scattered in response to the single gunshot.
A small American flag was secured near a fountain. Someone wrote on the duct tape: 鈥淰iolence is never the answer.鈥
Man arrested in Kirk鈥檚 killing had become 鈥榤ore political鈥
Family members of the young Utah man accused of shooting told authorities he had recently become 鈥渕ore political鈥 and saw the ally of President Donald Trump as a person spreading hate, according to charging documents.
, 22, of Washington, Utah, is registered to vote but is not affiliated with a political party, according to Utah state records. He was also listed as inactive, meaning he had not voted in at least the last two general elections. His parents are both registered as Republicans.
Utah鈥檚 governor said family members told authorities that Robinson 鈥渉ad become more political in recent years.鈥 Cox described a recent family dinner in which Robinson mentioned Kirk鈥檚 planned appearance. 鈥淭hey talked about why they didn鈥檛 like him and the viewpoints that he had,鈥 Cox said, referring to Robinson and an unnamed family member. 鈥淭he family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.鈥
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Orem community finds relief after suspect鈥檚 arrest
The law enforcement presence on the Utah Valley University campus remains heavy after Tyler Robinson鈥檚 arrest.
Officers continued to sweep the campus for evidence as officials said they were building their case and preparing to file charges by early next week.
By midday Friday, the mood in the surrounding community had shifted. Residents who had been afraid to leave their homes began venturing into the neighborhood. Witnesses of the shooting said the will allow them to begin to heal.
鈥淚 feel like there鈥檚 been this like really heavy, dark weight pressed over my heart and soul for the last two days,鈥 UVU alumnus Creighton Baird said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pure relief.鈥
Robinson was an electrical apprentice, living at home
Robinson attended Dixie Technical College in Southern Utah, where he was a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program.
The program trains people to be electricians, lighting technicians or electrical repair specialists.
A spokeswoman for Utah Valley University, Ellen Treanor, said he had previously attended Utah State University for one semester in 2021. He also earned credit at Utah Tech University while he was in high school.
Dixie Technical College has about 1,500 students and is located in St. George, near his family鈥檚 home in Washington, Utah.
Kirk鈥檚 coworkers and friends put on his show
Charlie Kirk鈥檚 friends and coworkers are still livestreaming his podcast to honor his legacy and share messages from the conservative activist鈥檚 supporters.
Turning Point鈥檚 spokesman Andrew Kolvet and chief operating officer Tyler Bowyer also were on Friday鈥檚 show, along with conservative podcaster Jack Posobiec.
Their voices were breaking and some cried as they described how he was texting with some of them moments before he was shot. 鈥淲hat it was about was, what are the good arguments in favor of marriage, the Christian version of marriage,鈥 said Blake Neff, a former writer for Tucker Carlson who traveled with Kirk.
Kirk espoused a view of marriage in which a husband is the head of a household while a wife is focused on raising children and supporting her man 鈥 as long as the man follows Scripture.
Suspect鈥檚 family home surrounded by police
There was a heavy police presence outside the suspect鈥檚 family鈥檚 house in St. George, Utah, as media arrived.
Window coverings were drawn, and a pickup truck was parked in front of the home on the street, blocking access to the driveway.
Officers routinely were warning people to stay off neighbors鈥 property. Both ends of the street also were blocked, confusing some motorists.
Turn away from political violence and division, Utah Gov. Cox urges
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, long an advocate for civility, made an impassioned plea on Friday for Americans and young people in particular to use the horror of as an inflection point to turn the country away from political violence and division.
鈥淭his is our moment: Do we escalate or do we find an off-ramp?鈥 Cox said after announcing the arrest . 鈥淚t鈥檚 a choice.鈥
Throughout his political career, the two-term Republican governor has pleaded for bipartisan cooperation, at times drawing attention for .
His speech on Friday 鈥 urged an appeal to common ground and humanity to forge a better society 鈥 was markedly different from the bellicose rhetoric often employed by other politicians including Trump, who is known for provocative language and has blamed Kirk鈥檚 killing on 鈥渞adical left鈥 rhetoric.
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US military services say the suspect did not serve
Tyler Robinson has no affiliation with the military, officials from all the military services have confirmed.
Here are the charges Tyler Robinson faces in Charlie Kirk鈥檚 killing
Robinson was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a weapon causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice. All are state felony charges and aggravated murder carries the possibility of the death penalty.
Formal charges are expected early next week.
There is no defense attorney yet listed for Robinson in court records.
State and federal court records do not show any prior criminal cases involving Robinson.
Suspect鈥檚 mother鈥檚 social media posts portray a happy family
Robinson has two younger brothers and his parents have been married for about 25 years, according to his mother鈥檚 social media posts. The family lives in a suburb of the city of St. George in southern Utah. That鈥檚 about a 3.5 hour drive south of the Utah Valley University campus where Kirk was shot.
The social media posts indicate his family was active, with photos of vacations to Disneyland, Alaska and St. Kitts and time outdoors spent fishing, zip-lining and target shooting.
Suspect鈥檚 father recognized him, AP source says
Robinson鈥檚 father recognized him from images released by authorities and encouraged him to turn himself in, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.
He refused at first, but then changed his mind, according to the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
His father reached out for help to a youth pastor, who helped Robinson turn himself in.
鈥 Lindsay Whitehurst
Details emerge about Kirk shooting suspect
Tyler James Robinson was admitted to Utah State University on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a video of him reading his acceptance letter posted to a family member鈥檚 social media account. A university spokesperson says he attended for only one semester in 2021.
Utah state records say Robinson was registered as a voter but not affiliated with either political party.
Vance thanks officials after arrest
Vice President JD Vance credited Utah officials and the FBI for their efforts in capturing the suspected shooter.
鈥淲e took a big step this morning in getting justice for Charlie, and for his family. Thanks be to God for that,鈥 Vance wrote.
Cox calls social media a 鈥榗ancer on our society right now鈥
The Utah governor was referencing the rapid spread of graphic video of Kirk鈥檚 fatal shooting, along with the recent release of video a deadly stabbing on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He said Americans aren鈥檛 used to seeing such graphic imagery. He encouraged people to step away from their devices and spend time with family instead.
鈥淭his is not good for us. It is not good to consume,鈥 Cox said. 鈥淪ocial media is a cancer on our society right now.鈥
FBI director shares timeline of investigation
The first FBI agents arrived on the scene at Utah Valley University some 16 minutes after Kirk was shot on Wednesday, Patel said at the news conference.
The bureau released the first photos of the suspect on Thursday morning, followed by the announcement of a cash reward and then the release of video of the suspect climbing down from the roof of a campus building and running away.
鈥淛ust last night, the suspect was taken into custody at 10 p.m. local time,鈥 Patel announced.
Governor says Kirk鈥檚 assassination 鈥榠s an attack on all of us鈥
Cox said some people have asked why there have been so many resources dedicated to investigating Kirk鈥檚 killing when there鈥檚 violence around the country, but the governor said it is 鈥渕uch bigger than an attack on an individual. It is an attack on all of us.鈥
The Republican said Kirk鈥檚 killing is 鈥渁n attack on the American experiment鈥 and values, and 鈥渃uts to the very foundation of who we are.鈥
Details of messages on bullet casings revealed
Bullet casings discovered by investigators had several inscriptions engraved on them, Cox said. The casing that had been fired read: 鈥渘otices bulges OWO what鈥檚 this?鈥
1. Cox said there were three unfired casings:
2. One read, 鈥渉ey fascist! catch!鈥 with an up arrow symbol, right arrow symbol, and three down arrow symbols.
3. Another one read: 鈥渙h bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao,鈥 Cox said.
4. The third fired casing read: 鈥渋f you read this you are gay lmao.鈥
Utah governor on Kirk suspect: 鈥榃e got him鈥
Cox opened a news conference on the latest developments in Kirk鈥檚 assassination with that statement.
Cox said the assassination suspect had grown more political and was opposed to Kirk鈥檚 beliefs, and that he had indicated to a family friend that he was connected to the shooting.
The president describes how he learned of Kirk鈥檚 assassination
Near the end of his Fox interview, Trump said he鈥檇 been holding a meeting about building the new White House ballroom when his aides interrupted.
鈥淭hey came in and they said, 鈥楥harlie Kirk is dead.鈥 I didn鈥檛 know what they meant. I said, 鈥榃hat do you mean, dead?鈥欌 Trump said.
鈥濃楥harlie Kirk was shot.鈥 And they thought it was dead because it was so horrific.鈥
Trump said he swiftly ended his meeting. 鈥淚 just told these people, 鈥淕et out, you gotta go.鈥
Suspect in custody in connection with Charlie Kirk shooting is 22-year-old from Utah, AP source says
The suspect in custody in connection with the assassination of Charlie Kirk is a 22-year-old from Utah, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Tyler Robinson, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
鈥 Alanna Durkin Richer
Trump says political events must continue despite safety concerns
鈥淵ou have to go forward,鈥 the president said when asked about appearances getting cancelled after Kirk鈥檚 assassination.
A news conference with investigators is scheduled at the top of the hour
State and federal officials in Utah are planning to hold a news conference at 9 a.m. ET on the investigation.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls are expected to attend.
Trump: 鈥榃ith a high degree of certainty, we have him鈥
President Donald Trump said Friday that the suspect in the Charlie Kirk killing has been captured.
President Trump said a person was in custody in connection with the shooting but cautioned that his information was preliminary. (Sept. 12, 2025)
AP Video鈥淲ith a high degree of certainty, we have him,鈥 Trump announced in a live interview on Fox News Chanel on Friday morning.
Trump said a minister who is also involved with law enforcement turned in the suspect to authorities.
鈥淪omebody that was very close to him said, 鈥楬mm, that鈥檚 him,鈥欌 Trump said.
