Shooting suspect in custody: The suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk has been identified as Tyler Robinson and is being held without bail in a Utah jail on several initial charges, including aggravated murder, according to officials.
• How it happened: Last night, one of Robinson’s family members reached out to a family friend, who then contacted authorities “with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident,” according to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
• More on the investigation: A family member told investigators that Robinson spoke negatively of Kirk before the shooting, the governor said. Investigators discovered a bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel, and inscriptions — including one that read “Hey fascist! Catch!” — were engraved on casings found with the rifle, officials said.
The suspect in Kirk’s killing is being held without bail
From CNN’s Dan Berman
The man suspected of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk is being held without bail in Utah County Jail on the orders of a state judge.
According to court records obtained by CNN, Judge Shawn Rice Howell signed an order to hold Tyler Robinson this morning.
Court documents say that Robinson has no prior misdemeanor or felony convictions.
We reported earlier that Robinson is being held on several initial charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice, but has not yet been formally charged.
Authorities have taken the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing, Tyler Robinson, into custody, they announced this morning. With that, they offered major details on how the search unfolded and how they gathered evidence.
Here is everything you need to know:
Who is Robinson: The 22-year-old grew up in the suburban community of Washington, Utah, and was a high-achieving student. He had no party affiliation and didn’t vote in the two most recent elections, voter registration records show. But a family member told investigators Robinson “had become more political in recent years” and had lashed out at Kirk, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said today.
Details of arrest: A family member of Robinson reached out to a family friend, who then “contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident,” Cox said. Robinson was taken into custody in Utah at 10 p.m. local time yesterday — 33 hours after Kirk’s killing, FBI Director Kash Patel said.
Evidence: Robinson posted messages on Discord, a group chat app, which his roommate showed to investigators, according to Cox. The message contents included:
- Robinson stating a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point
- Leaving the rifle in a bush
- Visually watching the area where a rifle was left
- Reference to having left the rifle wrapped in a towel
- Reference to engraving bullets and the rifle being unique
- Mention of Robinson changing outfits
What is known about the weapon: Investigators discovered a bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel, Cox said. The casings found with the rifle were engraved with inscriptions that included the words, ‘Hey fascist! Catch!’” Cox said.
Surveillance footage from the scene: Investigators said surveillance video showed the suspect arriving on campus Wednesday morning in a Dodge Challenger. He was seen in a plain maroon T-shirt, light-colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo and light-colored shoes, Cox said. When encountered by investigators, the suspect was wearing clothes “consistent” with those seen on video, the governor said.
