A man suspected of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk reportedly confessed to friends before turning himself in. Tyler Robinson, 22, is expected to face murder charges for the incident that occurred during a rally at Utah Valley University where Kirk, a close ally of Donald Trump, was killed by a single bullet.
After a 33-hour search, Robinson surrendered to authorities following his father’s identification of him in CCTV footage released during the manhunt. Details have emerged about Robinson’s alleged disclosure to friends in a Discord group after the shooting.
In a message obtained by the Washington Post, Robinson admitted his involvement in the incident, expressing remorse and indicating his imminent surrender to authorities. The message was sent Thursday night, just before his arrest, and shared with approximately 30 individuals.
Additionally, DNA evidence linked Robinson to a towel wrapped around a rifle near the crime scene, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Investigators also connected Robinson to a screwdriver found at the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired using DNA analysis.
Robinson’s acquaintances revealed his animosity towards Kirk and his alignment with leftist beliefs. Governor Spencer Cox mentioned Robinson’s extensive online activity in extremist circles.
Patel disclosed that Robinson had left a note mentioning his intent to target Kirk before the shooting. The FBI director stated that although the note was partially destroyed, its contents were recovered, suggesting Robinson acted alone.
Authorities are investigating Robinson’s relationship with a transgender individual to determine if it played a role in the crime. Despite the lack of cooperation from Robinson, officials suspect online radicalization may have influenced his actions. Notably, markings on the gun used in the shooting included anti-fascist and meme-related engravings.
Court records indicate that one bullet casing had a message taunting fascists, further underscoring the potential motivations behind the attack.