Salt Lake City,(Utah)September 12(HS): Authorities in Utah have confirmed that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has been taken into custody after a family member and a close family friend helped turn him in. The arrest followed a high-speed, multi-agency manhunt that officials called “historic progress” — completed in just 33 hours.
Governor Announces Arrest: We Got Him
Utah Governor Spencer Cox opened the press conference alongside the FBI and state law enforcement by declaring:
We got him.
Cox confirmed that Robinson’s own family played a pivotal role in facilitating his arrest. “A family member reached out to a family friend, who then contacted the Sheriff with information that Robinson had confessed — or strongly implied — that he carried out this atrocity,” Cox explained. He added, “I especially want to thank the suspect’s family for doing the right thing in the most difficult of circumstances.”
The Utah governor went further, describing Kirk’s death as “a political assassination… an attack not only on an individual, but on America itself.”
FBI Releases Timeline: “Historic Progress in 33 Hours”
FBI Director Kash Patel, who personally oversaw parts of the operation, laid out a detailed timeline of the investigation:
-12:23 PM, Sept 10: Charlie Kirk was shot at Utah Valley University.
-12:39 PM: The FBI’s first agents secured the scene within 16 minutes of the attack.
-10:00 AM, Sept 11: First official photos of the suspect released.
-10:45 AM: FBI announced a $100,000 reward for information.
-8:00 PM: Governor Cox held a news conference releasing suspect video.
-10:00 PM: Robinson was taken into custody with the cooperation of his family and friend.
The arrest is a testament to the dedication of good law enforcement being great,” Patel said, praising investigators who processed a sprawling crime scene while pursuing thousands of leads. He added: “We have made historic progress for Charlie in just 33 hours. That progress belongs not only to law enforcement, but to the American people.”
Motive Clues: Disturbing Bullet Messages
Authorities have disclosed that investigators recovered a bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel and a cache of engraved bullet casings. Inscriptions suggested both ideological references and internet trolling culture.
-One casing read: “Hey fascist! Catch!”
-Another carried the words of the Italian resistance song: “Bella Ciao”.
-A fired shell casing bore the internet phrase: “notices bulges OwO what’s this?” — a popular online meme.
-A fourth unfired casing stated: “If you read this, you are gay lmao.”
Governor Cox said these inscriptions reveal a chilling mix of radical politics and online extremism: “They appear to be a combination of Antifa symbolism, parody and trolling — but they show a young man who had become politicized and consumed with hate.”
Family’s Testimony: Robinson Didn’t Like Kirk
In a particularly poignant detail, Cox said a member of Robinson’s family told investigators that in recent years, the suspect had become “more political and openly hostile” towards Charlie Kirk.
At a recent family dinner, Robinson mentioned Kirk was coming to Utah Valley University,” Cox said. “He said he did not like Kirk, and believed Kirk was ‘full of hate and spreading hate.’”
Officials further revealed that Robinson confessed to his father before being turned in by a relative and a family friend, who escorted him into law enforcement custody.
Political Leadership Reacts
President Donald Trump issued a tribute shortly after the FBI briefing, posting a photo of himself embracing Kirk with the caption: “Everybody loved Charlie! Great Charlie Kirk. Rest in Peace, Shlomo Perl.”
Trump, who earlier described Kirk’s killing as “a dark moment for America”, pledged that Kirk will posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Vice President JD Vance praised the investigation, writing: “This morning we took a big step in securing justice for Charlie. Thanks be to God for that.”
Utah Governor’s Emotional Appeal
Visibly emotional, Governor Cox admitted: “I have been as angry as I have ever been, as sad as I have ever been. But Charlie’s words brought me back: ‘When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence.’”
He appealed to America’s youth: “You are inheriting a country where politics feels like rage. But your generation has an opportunity to build a different culture — one based in hard conversations, not hatred.”
Next Steps
Robinson, from Washington County in southwest Utah, is not enrolled at Utah Valley University. Officials said he is being held at Utah County Jail and charging documents are expected early next week.
Governor Cox emphasized closure is only beginning: “One person is responsible for what happened here, and that person is now in custody. Justice for Charlie and his family is coming.”
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
