(The Center Square) – Authorities on Friday confirmed the suspect in the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk is in custody.
The suspect was identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah.
“We got him,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at a Friday news conference.
Cox said that on Thursday night, a family member of Robinson’s “reached out to a family friend,” saying Robinson had implicated himself in the shooting. The friend then contacted authorities, who took Robinson into custody.
Law enforcement interviewed a family member of the suspect, who said that Robinson had become “more political in recent years,” Cox said.
The unidentified family member shared a recent incident in which Robinson mentioned Kirk was coming to speak at the Utah Valley University campus, where Kirk was shot and killed.
Robinson said he didn’t like Kirk’s political viewpoints and thought he was “full of hate and spreading hate,” the family member told authorities, Cox said.
Investigators then interviewed Robinson’s roommate, who showed them various messages on Discord, a free communication platform, one of which referenced Robinson saying he needed to retrieve a rifle from a drop point. The messages also referenced engraving bullets.
Authorities found the bolt action rifle Thursday believed to be used in Wednesday’s assassination. Bullets were found inside the rifle, one of which was engraved with the message, “Hey fascist! Catch!” Cox said.
Earlier Friday, President Donald Trump told Fox News the suspect in the killing of Kirk has been caught. Kirk was a close ally of Trump.
“I think with a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump told Fox & Friends. “Essentially, someone who knew him turned him in.”
As previously reported by The Center Square, the Utah Department of Public Safety released photos depicting the person of interest on Thursday.
Authorities had initially detained two individuals at different times following the shooting but released them after determining neither was involved.
Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder and ally of Trump, was shot in the neck while speaking at his “American Comeback Tour” on Utah Valley University’s campus Wednesday. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter, leaving behind his wife and two children under the age of 5.
School authorities traced the shots to the roof of the Losee Center, about 200 yards from the outdoor event.
The FBI, along with the Utah Department of Public Safety, is leading the investigation.
