What you need to know about Tyler Robinson, a suspected murder of Charlie Kirk
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested in connection with the murder of Charlie Kirk after his family attracted him, authorities say.
WASHINGTON CITY, Utah – Authorities say Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, was in custody this morning on September 12, accused him of killing conservative and influential Charlie Kirk. Kirk died after being shot in the neck when it was revealed in Utah, Orem, Utah, on September 10th.
Washington City police had media and neighbors across the street from the gunman’s family home on the morning of September 12th.
Who is Tyler Robinson, who is allegedly shooting Charlie Kirk?
Tyler Robinson, 22, attended school in St. George, South Utah, was appointed as a suspicious shooter. State records show that Robinson has no criminal history. Washington City, where Robinson’s family lives, is adjacent to a larger city.
Robinson is a registered voter in Utah, but does not have a party affiliation.
A social media photo of Robinson’s mother Amber depicts the close family Tyler was the oldest of his three sons.
Families can be shown on outdoor excursions such as holidays to the Grand Canyon and fishing trips.
In August 2020, Amber Robinson posted what appeared to be Tyler’s ACT College Aptitude Test Score, which, according to the recent average, puts him in the top 1% of Test Takers.
According to Amber’s social media, Tyler wore a Trump-related Halloween costume in 2017.
According to Amber Robinson’s social media, the eldest son, Robinson, graduated from Pineview High School in St. George in 2021. The high school did not respond immediately to inquiries from USA Today.
Tyler was photographed at Utah State University and was offered an academic scholarship to attend a Logan, Utah-based university, following a letter read aloud in a video posted on Amber’s social media.
Utah State University said the suspect “temporarily participated in Utah State University in the first semester in 2021.”
According to a neighbor who spoke to USA Today, he lived in the house with his parents.
How was Charlie Kirk’s gunman captured?
FBI Director Kash Patel announced that Robinson was taken into custody on Thursday, September 11th around 10pm local time.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters that Robinson was taken into custody after the family contacted a family friend.
Cox said “his family and friends helped him save him to custody of Washington County law enforcement agencies.” The governor thanked the “people who did the right thing in this case.”
Authorities linked him to crime through online messaging, interviews with family and friends, and reviews of surveillance videos. The messages included those sent on Discord, a popular online chat platform.
President Donald Trump first announced his capture when he appeared on Fox and Friends on Friday morning, without name Robinson. Trump said the minister was involved in identifying the suspect.
A Robinson family neighbor told USA Today that they attended the Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-day Saints.
The announcement is the same as a video showing the shooter’s leap from the rooftop after the September 10th attack, the day after law enforcement released some images. The FBI recovered what they believe to be a murder weapon, a powerful bolt-action rifle, and several traces on the roof caused the gunman to fire one deadly shot.
Robinson “has become more political than in recent years.”
At the dinner table before Kirk came to Utah Valley University for the event where he was killed, Robinson suspected that he had spoken about the conservative activist on lightly paraaging terms, Cox said in a news briefing.
“Investigators interviewed Robinson’s family who said Robinson has become more political in recent years,” Cox said.
Cox also said that the family members interviewed by authorities mentioned the recent incident that Robinson came to dinner before September 10th.
“They talked about why they didn’t like him and the perspective he had,” Cox said. “The family also said that Kirk is full of hatred and spreading hatred.”
What kind of gun did the investigator recover?
In the wooded area behind the Utah Valley University Ross Office building, FBI forensic agents have recovered what they call “powerful rifles.”
The rifle was a Moser 98-volt action with a chambered in the popular Springfield .30-06 caliber, authorities announced on September 12th.
Tom Chittum, former assistant director of the ATF Associate, predicted that a single shot fired at Kirk showed that a bolt-action rifle was used.
“The .30-06 is a common hunting caliber, and the report shows it is an older model imported,” said former ATF Deputy Director Tom Chittum.
According to Chittum, traditional hunting calibers are used to hunt deer, and in this configuration, they are usually found in five rounds of magazines. A bolt-action rifle means that the trigger fires a round, and the shooter must manually chamber another round. This is the opposite of semi-automatic rifles where firearms use mechanisms to use subsequent rounds in the chamber.
“This is a longer shot, suggesting that a person has prepared and practiced, but you don’t necessarily have to be a police or military sniper to make that shot,” Chittam said. “In modern optics and some practice, it’s not an impossible shot.”
What’s on the bullet?
Authorities said there was a message written on the casing that was fired, and three underdeveloped bullets found in the Moselle rifle, allegedly used in the shooting.
According to Utah Governor Spencer Cox, the fired casing said, “What is this?” The phrase refers to animated videos and internet memes tied to furry culture. OWO refers to emojis and shows cuteness and curiosity, “What is this?” It is frequently referenced by video game streamers.
According to Cox, “One of the rude casings said: “Oh Bella Chao, Bella Chao, Chao, Chao.” The lyrics refer to the national anthem of anti-fascist Italian resistance during World War II.
Cox said another person said, “Hey, fascist! Catch!” The casing also had a series of arrows heading right, down, down, and downward in relation to a cooperative shooter video game called Helldivers 2. The input is an Airstrike code. It is used to transform into a meme and imply a catastrophic response to what is to be destroyed.
According to Cox, the third rude casing said, “If you’re reading this, you’re a gay lmao.”
What should the Robinson family neighbors say?
When discussing the Robinson family, few neighbors wanted to share their name with USA Today.
Christine Schwierman, who lived down two doors for the past 16 years, said he has known the suspect’s family for decades. The Washington County School District principal said she saw the boys grow up and cross paths with their families at church and school events. “He was always very quiet and had a few friends,” she said. “I think he’s smarter on a musical side,” Schweierman said he believes social media may have played a role in shaping his opinion. “There’s too much hatred there,” she said. “I know he didn’t teach them. I don’t hate him. I loved Charlie Kirk, but I try to understand what’s going on in his mind.”
She described the suspect’s mother, Amber, as “a very beautiful and sweet woman,” and said she was heartbroken for her family. Schweierman said her own grandson was attending Charlie Kirk’s event. “My feelings were not at least a massive amount of shooting,” she said. “The funny thing is that my daughter actually hosts events for mental health, which makes you think.”
Will Robinson be sentenced to death for Kirk’s murder?
Robinson is currently being held at the Utah County Jail, Cox said.
The governor said the suspected shooter was “indicted soon and will be accountable.” Cox said on September 11 that state prosecutors could pursue the death penalty for Kirk’s murderer, but it is unclear when those charges will be filed.
Trump in his morning comments on Fox and his friends argued that Kirk’s murderer should receive the death penalty.
“I hope he will receive the death penalty,” Trump said. “What he did – Charlie Kirk was the best person.”
Utah has allowed fire forces when fatal injections are not available due to long-term shortages, but uses lethal injections as the primary method of execution for inmates blamed today.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
