Utah Governor Spencer Cox on Friday confirmed that police have arrested a 22-year-old Utah man in connection with the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspect has been identified as Tyler Robinson.
Speaking at a press conference, Governor Cox explained how the arrest came about. On the evening of September 11, one of Robinson’s family members shared concerns with a family friend, saying Robinson had either admitted or hinted that he was responsible for the incident. That family friend quickly contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, setting the investigation into motion. “We got him,” Cox said.
Investigators pieced together several key pieces of evidence that pointed toward Robinson. CCTV footage from Utah Valley University showed him arriving at the campus in a Dodge Challenger on Wednesday morning, the same day of the attack. He was seen wearing a maroon T-shirt, light-coloured shorts, a black hat with a white logo, and light shoes. Governor Cox noted that this matched the exact clothing Robinson had on at the time of his arrest.
Authorities also relied on a combination of digital messages, unusual bullet casings, and detailed campus surveillance footage. Together, these helped them build a strong case linking Robinson to the crime. After days of intensive investigation and nationwide attention, Robinson was finally taken into custody in Utah.
Just about an hour before Governor Cox’s announcement, US President Donald Trump had revealed in a Fox News interview that a suspect was already detained. Trump said Robinson was turned in by someone very close to him, a development he credited to clear surveillance images released by the FBI. He further noted that Robinson’s father cooperated with the authorities, and he praised a “person of faith” for helping to push the case forward. “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump declared.
Charlie Kirk was attacked on Wednesday while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University in what investigators described as a deliberate and targeted shooting. He was rushed to the hospital but sadly passed away later. A high-powered rifle was recovered near the scene. Earlier, Trump had remembered Kirk warmly, calling him “a good person,” and even announced that he would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.