Tyler Robinson Identified as Suspect in Charlie Kirk Assassination

22-year-old Utah man accused of killing conservative commentator at university rally.

Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old student from Washington, Utah, has been identified as the suspect in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a rally at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

Law enforcement sources told the Daily Mail that Robinson was taken into custody late Thursday night following a day-and-a-half-long manhunt. Authorities allege Robinson fired a single shot from a rooftop perch about 200 yards away, striking Kirk as he addressed a packed crowd at the Orem campus.

According to sources, Robinson confessed to his father, Matt Robinson, a 27-year veteran of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. His father then contacted authorities and helped secure his son before officers arrived. His mother, Amber Robinson, works for Intermountain Support Coordination Services, a state contractor that assists individuals with disabilities.

Robinson, who was studying at Utah State University on scholarship, lived with his family in a six-bedroom home valued at $600,000, about 260 miles from the scene of the shooting. Social media posts show him as a devoted son and older brother, with family photos from vacations, college milestones, and even a 2017 Halloween picture dressed as Donald Trump. Other images depict him handling firearms from a young age, including one posing with an M2 Browning machine gun.

Investigators have not yet released a motive. At a Thursday night press conference, officials confirmed Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted.

The arrest followed chaotic hours on campus and confusion in the investigation. Two people were initially detained after the shooting but later released. Surveillance footage showed a figure fleeing across rooftops immediately after the gunfire. Authorities had offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s capture.

The assassination has shaken conservative circles. Kirk, 31, was a nationally recognized figure who co-founded Turning Point USA and built a following among young voters through campus events and online platforms. He leaves behind his wife, Erika, a three-year-old daughter, and a 16-month-old son.

President Donald Trump mourned his longtime ally, writing on Truth Social: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. 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!” Trump later announced Robinson’s arrest on Fox News, noting that “someone very close” to the suspect had turned him in.

Governor Spencer Cox pledged justice, saying he had spoken directly with Trump. “Abby and I are heartbroken. We are praying for Charlie’s wife, daughter, and son,” he wrote on X.

Kirk was struck moments after responding to a question about mass shootings. Witness Sophie Anderson, who was just 100 feet from the stage, described the chaos. “The second it happened, I knew it was a gunshot,” she told the Daily Mail. “He was shot in the neck and just fell over and he was just a fountain of blood. All these kids are just falling apart and bawling.”

Flags will fly at half-staff nationwide through Sunday evening in Kirk’s honor.