The man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk at a Utah university on Wednesday was reportedly confronted by his father before his arrest.
Tyler Robinson, aged 22, was detained on Thursday, approximately 36 hours following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, 31, at Utah Valley University in Orem. According to the New York Post, which referenced unnamed law enforcement sources, Robinson’s father confronted him after the FBI disseminated images of the suspect.
Sources revealed that Robinson threatened suicide rather than surrendering. His father reportedly advised him to communicate with a youth minister involved with the U.S. Marshals Service’s fugitive task force.
The sources told the New York Post that the FBI apprehended Robinson after his youth minister called a deputy from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox mentioned that authorities spoke with Robinson’s roommate, who linked several Discord comments to him. Governor Cox noted that messages linked to “Tyler” discussed fetching a rifle from a specific location, leaving it in a bush wrapped in a towel, engraving the bullets, and altering his attire.
However, a Discord spokesperson told CNN that there is no indication Robinson used the platform to promote violence or plan Kirk’s killing.
“These communications involved discussions between the suspect’s roommate and a friend post-shooting, with the roommate recounting a note left by the suspect,” stated Jud Hoffman, Discord’s vice president of trust and safety.
Disturbing video footage captured the moment Kirk was shot in the neck at Utah Valley College on Wednesday. He was attending the university as part of his “The American Comeback” tour, aimed at participating in political discussions with audiences.
Officials indicated that the bullet came from the university’s Losee Center, situated 200 yards from where Kirk was under a tent when tragically shot.
The suspect is believed to have jumped off the roof and fled to a nearby neighborhood.
Before Robinson’s capture, a Mauser .30 caliber bolt-action rifle was discovered in the woods not far from where the shooting took place. The rifle reportedly had a spent cartridge and three rounds in the magazine.
Cox claimed the cartridges from the rifle had various messages, including, “hey fascist! catch!” with several arrows, “oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao,” and “if you read this you are gay lmao.” The spent casing reportedly had the message, “notices bulges oWo what’s this.”
Robinson remains jailed without bail on preliminary charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice. The Utah County attorney’s office said Robinson’s first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
[Feature Photo: FBI]
