A two-day manhunt in Utah has ended with the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the suspect accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University.
Before officials made the news public, former President Donald Trump announced on Fox & Friends that Robinson was already in custody. Trump described Kirk as “brilliant” and “like a son,” while calling for the death penalty against the suspect. He praised Kirk’s role in energizing young voters and supporting Republican outreach efforts on platforms like TikTok.
Charlie Kirk, 31, was a prominent conservative media figure and close Trump ally. He was shot in the neck on Wednesday while addressing an audience of 3,000 at Utah Valley University. Despite being rushed to a hospital, Kirk died shortly after.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox explained that Robinson was arrested after a family member confided in a friend, who alerted local authorities. The tip was passed on to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Investigators also tracked Robinson’s movements through surveillance footage, which showed his Dodge Challenger arriving on campus on the morning of September 10.
Relatives told investigators that Robinson had become increasingly political and recently expressed hatred for Kirk. Surveillance footage further revealed a man fleeing the scene across a rooftop near the shooting site. Shoe prints and palm prints were recovered and are now being analyzed.
The federal investigation involved more than 200 interviews and over 11,000 public tips before Robinson was captured. He is described as a Utah resident but not a student at Utah Valley University. While the exact motive is still under investigation, early reports suggest his political hostility toward Kirk may have been a factor.
Authorities will now focus on understanding Robinson’s motives, possible connections, and how he planned the attack. The killing is expected to intensify debates over political polarization and the safety of public figures in the United States.
