Tyler Robinson named as the Charlie Kirk shooter: What we know about the suspect in custody

Officials say a suspect is now in custody after this week’s assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk, 31, was shot dead while speaking during an appearance at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday.

In a press conference on Friday morning, Utah governor Spencer Cox named the suspect as Tyler Robinson, who has been identified as a 22-year-old male from Washington, Utah. “We got him,” Cox told reporters.

The governor noted that Robinson “will be charged soon, and will be held accountable”.

Who is Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson?

Cox said Robinson was apprehended after law enforcement had on Thursday been contacted by a friend of Robinson’s family, who told investigators that he had confessed to shooting Kirk.

Cox also explained that authorities have learned from a member of Robinson’s family that the suspect had talked about Kirk’s visit to Utah Valley University in advance of the activist’s appearance.

Investigators were told that Robinson, who had become “more political in recent years”, expressed his dislike for Kirk, and “stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate,” Cox said.

Cox also revealed: “[Robinson] was not a student here at UVU. He was living, and had lived for a long time, with his family in Washington County."

FBI director Kash Patel, who said Robinson was taken into custody at 10:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, added: “This is what happens when you let good cops be cops.”

Robinson mugshot released

Mugshots taken of Robinson after his arrest on Thursday have been made public:

“Hey fascist! Catch!”

Governor Cox revealed that an unfired bullet casing discovered with the presumed murder weapon bore the inscription: “Hey, fascist, exclamation point, catch, exclamation point.”

Speaking on Thursday, FBI special agent Robert Bohls had described the weapon as “a high-powered, bolt action rifle”.

Trump first to announce Kirk shooting suspect in custody

Friday’s press conference came shortly after U.S. president Donald Trump revealed in an interview with Fox News that authorities had detained a suspect.

“I think with a high degree of certainty that we have him,” Trump told the network. “Everybody did a great job.”

The president added: “So much work has been done in the last two and a half days […]. I think we’re in great shape.”

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