United States authorities confirmed on Friday morning that they have arrested Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man suspected of assassinating conservative commentator Charlie Kirk earlier this week.
The arrest comes after days of investigation and a nationwide manhunt that gripped the country.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced the breakthrough at a news conference, calling the shooting a “political assassination.”
How Tyler Robinson was caught
Governor Cox said Robinson was taken into custody on Thursday night after a family friend alerted law enforcement. According to Cox, the friend told investigators that Robinson had either confessed or strongly implied that he was the shooter.
Messages from Robinson on the chat platform Discord were later uncovered, where he referred to the rifle used in the attack and to bullets that had engravings suggesting political motives.
Surveillance footage also tied Robinson to the crime. Authorities said his clothing in the video matched what he was wearing when Washington County investigators encountered him in person on Friday, 12 September 2025.
What investigators found
The FBI confirmed that a high-powered bolt-action rifle believed to be the murder weapon was recovered in a wooded area near Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot while addressing a crowd.
Forensic experts also collected a palm print, footwear impressions, and forearm imprints believed to belong to Robinson.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the evidence is still being analysed but stressed that the case against Robinson is strong.
The killing of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative voice and co-founder of Turning Point USA, has worsened political tensions in the U.S.
At the news briefing, Governor Cox said the tragedy had left him “as angry as I have ever been.” He urged young Americans to reject political violence:
“To my young friends out there, you are inheriting a country where politics feels like rage. But we can choose a different path. Your generation has an opportunity to build a culture that is very different than what we are suffering through right now.”
US President Donald Trump also confirmed the arrest during an interview on Fox News.
“I think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him. I hope the suspect gets the death penalty,” he said.
Who is Tyler Robinson?
Not much is publicly known about Robinson.
Authorities say he was 22 years old and described as “college age” in earlier police briefings.
A relative told investigators that Robinson had become more political in recent years and often spoke negatively about Charlie Kirk.
Governor Cox described him as someone who acted alone.
He will face murder charges in the coming days.
Trump has said he will attend Charlie Kirk’s funeral this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona.
The FBI continues to investigate whether Robinson had deeper political or extremist ties.
Officials also warned the public to be cautious about online conspiracy theories surrounding the case, noting that foreign actors are spreading disinformation.