Suspect in Charlie Kirk Shooting in Custody, Named as Tyler Robinson

The United States authorities has announced the e arrest of a man suspected to be behind the shooting of right-wing commentator, Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was shot on Wednesday at an event at Utah Valley University while speaking to a large crowd at an outdoor “Prove Me Wrong” debate where he invites students to challenge his political and cultural views.

In a news briefing Friday morning, Utah Governor, Spencer Cox announced, “We got him,” and then identified the suspect in custody as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.

Cox said that Robinson, in custody since Thursday night, is believed to have acted alone in what he called a “political assassination”.

Cox said a family friend of Robinson’s contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with information that Robinson had confessed or implied he was responsible for the shooting.

Cox also said investigators uncovered messages from Robinson on the messaging application Discord, referring to the rifle he used and engravings on bullets that suggest the killing was politically motivated.

The Utah governor noted that a relative of Robinson, interviewed by investigators, said Robinson had become more political in recent years and spoken negatively about Kirk, who cofounded the conservative organisation Turning Point USA and was a staunch ally of US President Donald Trump.

He said Robinson will be charged soon.

Before the shooting, Robinson was captured in surveillance footage wearing clothing that matched what he was wearing when Washington County investigators later encountered him in-person on September 12, according to Cox.

FBI Director Kash Patel, also speaking at the news briefing, added that authorities have seized forensic evidence and are evaluating it, stressing that the investigation is ongoing.

He said the agency and its partners “are proud to stand here today together to bring justice to the family of Charlie Kirk and honour his memory”.