Utah — Governor Spencer Cox and FBI Director Kash Patel announced today in a press conference that the suspect being sought in the assassination of Charlie Kirk has been apprehended. The Governor provided the following information about the suspect and the investigation.
On the evening of September 11th, 2025 a family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office who confessed or implied that he had committed the incident. The information was relayed to the Utah County Sherriff’s Office, investigators at Utah Valley University, and the FBI. UVU surveillance footage shows him arriving on campus at 8:29am on September 10th in a grey Dodge Challenger.
He was observed arriving on campus in plain clothes. In interviews with a family member it was reported that Robinson had become more political in recent years, they referenced a recent incident at dinner where Robinson mentioned that Charlie Kirk was coming to campus, discussed why Robinson didn’t like Kirk and that Kirk was “filled with hate”.
Investigators interviewed Robinson’s roommate and reviewed messages between them. These messages included content stating a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush, messages related to visually watching the area where a rifle was left and a message referring to having left the rifle wrapped in towel. The messages also refer to engraving bullets and the scope and rifle being unique. The messages also included that Tyler had changed outfits. The rifle was a Mauser bolt action 30-06 with a scope mounted on top.
Inscriptions on the bullet casings were noted. An inscription on a fired casing read “Notices bulges OwO what’s this?” inscriptions on three unfired casings read “Hey Fascist! Catch! up arrow, right arrow, 3 down arrows”, “oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao”, and the third read “If you read this, you are gay LMAO”
FBI Director Patel stated that “The FBI and our partners are proud to stand here today together to bring justice to the family of Charlie Kirk and honor his memory. I want to express my deep gratitude to President Trump, the Vice President, and the entire White House who have been so incredibly supportive with resources and just personally to the FBI as a team.” “In 33 hours we have made extraordinary progress for Charlie”. He went on to thank the Utah Governor and local and state law enforcement for their partnership and work. Director Patel reported that the first FBI agents arrived on site in 16 minutes with chiefs of police and secured the scene. The Director went on to provide further information about their actions as part of the investigation.
The Governor said “I think it’s important with eyes wide open what’s happening in our country today”. He went on to discuss why there has been such emphasis on this case amidst violence around the country stating “Political violence is different than other kinds of violence.” “We will never be able to solve all the other problems including the violence problems that people are worried about if we can’t have a clash of ideas safely and securely. Even, especially those ideas with which you disagree”.
Governor Cox expressed feeling deep sadness and anger and that it was some of Charlie’s words that helped pull him back. “When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence.” “The weak can never forgive, forgiveness is the attribute of the strong, the only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive. Welcome without judgement, love without condition, forgive without limit.” “Always forgive your enemies nothing annoys them so much.” The Governor went on to quote Charlie Kirk further with a final quote of “what we as a culture have to get back to being able to have a reasonable agreement where violence is not an option.” Governor Cox spoke to youth in the country that while we have a politics that feels like rage is the only option they have the ability to create something different.
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