Authorities arrested Tyler Robinson, the man accused in the Charlie Kirk assassination, earlier today.
As the investigation ramps up, here’s a look at what is known so far about Robinson.
Robinson had earlier expressed to family his opposition to the viewpoints of Kirk, the authorities said Friday in announcing an arrest in Kirk’s targeted killing.
Robinson, 22, had become “more political” in the run-up to the shooting and had indicated to a family friend afterward that he was responsible, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement reported by The Associated Press (AP).
Cox also cited as key pieces of evidence engravings on bullets found in a rifle believed used in the attack as well as chatting app messages attributed to the shooting suspect that a roommate shared with law enforcement.
Robinson’s arrest was successful in large part to tips and interviews conducted by family and friends.
According to multiple reports, Robinson was “full of hate” in the days before the shooting, according to a family friend.
Authorities revealed the 22-year-old had confessed to the assassination and had been turned in by a relative, after the suspect first said he would rather kill himself than go into custody, according to The New York Post.
Bullets found in the chamber of the rifle reportedly used by Robinson included apparent left-wing slogans such as “Hey fascist! Catch!” and another referencing “Oh, Bella Ciao!” a popular Italian anti-fascist song, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said in a Friday statement.
The slogan is the title of an anti-fascist song popularized during World War II by left-wing Italian partisans resisting Nazi Germany and Benito Mussolini’s regime.
Singing the song is a hallmark of Liberation Day in Italy, which is celebrated every April 25.
The slogan has been embraced by the global left and was recently sung by trade unionists to taunt Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, according to a report from The Post.
Authorities interviewed Robinson’s roommate, who showed them many Discord messages from the suspect, including ones telling him to retrieve a rifle and giving details about where it would be found, wrapped in a towel, in a wooded area close to the Utah Valley University campus.
Robinson was turned in after his father recognized him in photos released by the FBI on Thursday, law enforcement sources told The Post.
The father called Washington County Sheriff’s Department and confronted his son when he returned home, at which point Robinson admitted he was the gunman, the sources said.
Robinson’s father asked him to turn himself in, but his son replied that he would rather kill himself.
The father then convinced his son to speak with their youth minister, who also serves as a task force officer with the US Marshals Service.
The minister called the FBI and agents later took Robinson into custody.
“We got him,” declared Gov. Cox as he opened Friday’s news conference, where he was joined by FBI Director Kash Patel, as they announced that the 33-hour manhunt finally came to a close Thursday night.
This is a developing story. Check back for further updates as they develop.