A suspect is now in custody in connection to the shooting death of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University Wednesday.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox began the press conference announcing the news Friday saying that the suspect he identified as Tyler Robinson of Utah was arrested the night before and is expected to soon be criminally charged.
“We got him,” Cox told reporters.
“On the evening of Sept. 11, a family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident.”
In responding to reporters, Cox went on to describe in more detail how Robinson’s arrest unfolded on Thursday evening.
“(Robinson’s) family and a friend helped to deliver him into the custody of law enforcement in Washington County. Those of you that don’t know where Washington County is, it is the most southwestern of the state of Utah. That’s where he lived and where they turned him into police.” The killing was referred to by Cox as a “political assassination.” “This is certainly about the tragic death (and) political assassination of Charlie Kirk,” Cox said at the press conference.
“It is also much bigger than an attack on an individual. It is a threat to each of us. It’s a smear campaign against the American experiment. It is an attack on our ideals. This cuts to the very foundation of who we are, of who we have been and who we could be in better times.“ Cox also described what he says investigators heard from those who know the suspect.
“Investigators interviewed a family member of Robinson who stated that Robinson had become more political in recent years,” Cox said.
“The family member referenced a recent incident in which Robinson came to dinner prior to Sept. 10, and in that conversation with another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU (Utah Valley University). They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had. The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.“
Robinson was brought into police custody after a manhunt lasted nearly two days following the fatal shooting of Kirk. Both federal and state officials said they received thousands of tips from the public, and had on Thursday released images and videos of the suspect they allege was Robinson.Utah’s governor said Thursday the death penalty will be pursued.On Sept. 10, Kirk had arrived for a scheduled appearance at Utah Valley University at an outdoor venue shortly after 12:00 p.m. local time.
Kirk was an American conservative political activist and commentor, who co-founded Turning Point USA, which describes itself a non-profit organization with a “mission to identify, educate, train and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.”
Kirk was also considered a close ally of United States President Donald Trump, who posted on social media about Kirk’s death.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!” wrote Trump on Truth Social.
During the event in Utah, Kirk was seen sitting under a white tent with signs and slogans reading “Prove Me Wrong” and “The American Comeback” and speaking to the crowd using a handheld microphone. Videos that quickly circulated on social media showed Kirk being shot in the neck while on stage, and large amounts of blood before the crowd began to flee.
Cox alleged at the press conference Friday that Robinson arrived on the campus prior to the event on Sept. 10 in a grey Dodge Challenger at approximately 8:29 a.m. local time, and that he was not a student at the college.
Beau Mason, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, stated in a previous statement that stairwell surveillance footage showed a “person of interest.”
‘We got him:’ U.S. authorities say alleged Charlie Kirk shooter in custody
