Tyler Robinson Arrested in Connection with Charlie Kirk Assassination at Utah Valley University

The suspect in Charlie Kirk's assassination has been identified as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident

Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident, has been taken into custody in connection with the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, law enforcement officials confirmed. Robinson reportedly confessed to his father, a 27-year veteran of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, who then contacted authorities and secured his son before he could be taken into custody.

Robinson, a student at Utah Valley University, was apprehended around 11 p.m. local time on Thursday night in southern Utah, approximately 260 miles from the site of the shooting in Orem. He resides in a $600,000 six-bedroom home in Washington, Utah. His mother, Amber Robinson, works for a state-contracted organization providing care for disabled residents. Authorities have not confirmed a motive for the killing.

Robinson was a student at Utah Valley University

Officials stated Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted. The arrest follows a day-and-a-half manhunt that included multiple mistaken apprehensions and the release of a “person of interest” previously taken into custody. Law enforcement had offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s capture and had released surveillance footage showing a figure fleeing a rooftop after the shooting.

Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while answering questions about mass shootings during his “American Comeback Tour.” The bolt-action rifle used in the shooting was recovered near the campus. Witnesses described chaos as Kirk fell, blood gushing from his neck, and students scrambled to safety. Some barricaded themselves inside classrooms using tables, chairs, and even electrical cords.

Kirk, seen moments before he was shot, was assassinated Wednesday on the UVU campus in Orem, Utah as he held a Turning Point USA event

Kirk, a father of two, leaves behind his wife Erika Frantzve and their three-year-old daughter and 16-month-old son. President Donald Trump led tributes, calling Kirk “Great, and even Legendary” and ordering flags lowered to half-staff until Sunday evening.

Kirk was widely known for his influence among young Republicans and his work with Turning Point USA, which he co-founded in 2012 to organize students around principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government. He also played a key role in Republican campaigns, serving as an aide to Donald Trump Jr. and supporting Vice President JD Vance. Kirk’s initiatives included Turning Point Academy, Turning Point Faith, and the expansion of college and high school chapters under “Club America.”

The alleged killer confessed to his father, who is a a 27-year veteran of the Washington County Sheriff's Department

The shooting at Utah Valley University is part of a broader surge of political violence in the United States, which has included the assassination of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband, the firebombing of a Colorado parade, and an attack on Pennsylvania’s governor. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said authorities are working with the FBI to bring justice in the case.