Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah native accused of killing conservative commentator and political operative Charlie Kirk, is refusing to speak with investigators, CNN reported on Friday afternoon.
Robinson is being held without bail and is expected to make his first court appearance virtually in a hearing on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Eastern after the Utah County attorney’s office files charges. Charges haven’t been announced, but Robinson is expected to be charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a gun causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice, per a probable cause affidavit.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said on Friday that Robinson was taken into custody after one of the 22-year-old’s relatives recognized him from images that law enforcement publicized. The governor also said that Robinson confessed to killing Kirk at an event on the campus of Utah Valley University, south of Salt Lake City.
Robinson’s father was reportedly the one to turn him in.
Kash Patel, the FBI director, said Robinson was taken into custody around 10 p.m. local time on Thursday.
Cox said that the family member contacted a friend, who contacted authorities. He added that investigators interviewed a family member of Robinson’s, who said that the suspect had “become more political in recent years” and mentioned Kirk’s upcoming appearance at the university in disparaging terms.
Robinson’s roommate showed investigators messages that he and Robinson exchanged on Discord, including what appeared to be incriminating messages, according to Cox. Those included “a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush,” and “a mention of a scope and the rifle being unique.”
Discord confirmed that Robinson had an account but disputed Cox’s characterizations of the messages. The account has been removed.
“The messages referenced in recent reporting about planning details do not appear to be Discord messages,” the company stated. “These were communications between the suspect’s roommate and a friend after the shooting, where the roommate was recounting the contents of a note the suspect had left elsewhere.”
Authorities recovered what they believe to be the murder weapon, a high-powered, bolt-action, scope-mounted rifle, on Thursday, just off the university’s campus in a wooded area.
Surveillance from the school showed Robinson entering the campus on Wednesday morning by car. Investigators said upon his apprehension, Robinson was wearing clothes consistent with those seen on the suspect in surveillance footage.
Robinson has no known criminal record or political party affiliation.
The Anti-Defamation League said that antisemitic conspiracy theories have surrounded Kirk’s murder, including claims that Israel carried out a “false flag assassination” and that Israel or Jews killed Kirk “to sow fear against Muslims.”
