Who is Tyler Robinson? The 22-year-old who killed Charlie Kirk and how a family tip brought him down

A TV monitor displays a picture of Tyler Robinson, the suspected of killing Charlie Kirk on September 11, in Orem, Utah, on September 12, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

Authorities in the United States said on Friday they have taken into custody the man suspected of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10. Kirk, 31, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot in the neck while addressing an outdoor crowd on campus. He died at the scene.

The FBI identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Utah. Utah Governor Spencer Cox opened a Thursday press conference with the words, “We got him.”

FBI official Kash Patel told reporters that “the arrest is a testament to the dedication of good law enforcement being great” and called the probe “large” but “processed quickly.” He added, “In 33 hours, we have made historic progress for Charlie.” Patel thanked Kirk’s parents, widow and children “all of whom will be involved in bringing Kirk justice.” Concluding his remarks, Patel said, “To my friend, Charlie Kirk: Rest now, brother. We have the watch. And I’ll see you in Valhalla.”

Sheriff Mike Smith described the case as “a vast, complicated and very, very fast-paced investigation” and thanked the public for their level of cooperation.

How the suspect was identified

Officials say Robinson’s own family played a decisive role. According to Governor Cox, “On the evening of September 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.”

Cox added that a family member told investigators Robinson had become more political in recent years and that he spoke negatively about Kirk. “In the conversation with another family member, Robinson mentioned Kirk was coming to UVU. They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had,” Cox said. Robinson, during that dinner, claimed “Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.”

Authorities say the father urged Robinson to go to police and involved a youth pastor to help him. The pastor called the US Marshals, who then took Robinson into custody.

Investigators are also reviewing online messages. Cox said Robinson’s roommate showed them Discord conversations in which Robinson spoke of retrieving a rifle from a drop point, leaving it wrapped in a towel, watching the area where it had been left, engraving bullets, and changing outfits. “The content of these included messages affiliated with the contact Tyler, stating a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush, messages related to visually watching the area where a rifle was left, and a message referring to having left the rifle wrapped in a towel,” Cox said. “The messages also refer to engraving bullets and a mention of a scope, and the rifle being unique. Messages from the contact Tyler also mentioned that he had changed outfits.”

Cox revealed that inscriptions on bullet casings read “Hey fascist! Catch!”, “o bella ciao, bella ciao” and “if you read this you are gay lmao.”

What officials and Trump are saying

Governor Cox praised both the public and Robinson’s family for helping authorities. “Helping us get to this point,” he said, “they did the right thing.” He also offered condolences to Kirk’s family, saying, “I especially want to thank the family of Charlie Kirk. I want us to be thinking of them as we bring justice to this case.”

He described the killing as bigger than one man. “There is one person responsible for what happened here and that person is now in custody and will be charged soon and will be held accountable.” He added, “It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment, it is an attack on our ideals,” saying the act “cuts to the very foundation of who we are.” Cox urged the public not to watch videos of Kirk’s death circulating on social media. “This is not good for us. It is not good to consume,” he said. “Social media is a cancer on our society right now.”

He added that “we are not wired as human beings” to process the constant hatred and violence online. “I would encourage people to log off, turn off, touch grass, hug a family member, go out and do good in your community,” Cox said.

Speaking to Fox News on September 12, President Trump called Kirk “talented” and “like a son.” He praised law enforcement, saying, “I think with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody. Everyone did a great job. We worked with the local police, the governor – everybody did a great job. Getting somebody that you start off with absolutely nothing.”

Trump also told Fox that “someone very close” to the suspect had turned him in and indicated that a minister helped bring Robinson’s father to law enforcement. “The person was involved with law enforcement but was a person of faith, a minister, and brought him to a US Marshal who was fantastic. They drove into the police headquarters and he’s there now,” the president said.

Calling the shooting video “horrific,” Trump said he had not watched it. “I didn’t want to remember Charlie that way,” he told Fox. He urged a speedy trial and said he hoped the shooter would get the death penalty.

The broader message

Governor Cox reflected on the political climate that he said shaped this tragedy. “I have been as angry as I have ever been, as sad as I have ever been,” he said. “As anger pushed me to the brink, Charlie’s words brought me back.”

“You are inheriting a country where politics feels like rage is the only option. Your generation has an opportunity to build a culture that is very different than what we’re suffering through right now. Not by pretending differences don’t matter, but by embracing our differences,” Cox told young people.