The hunt for the man accused of fatally shooting right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University has ended with the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, according to multiple media outlets citing investigative sources.
Authorities said the breakthrough came after a person “very close” to Robinson provided information that guided the FBI and local police to him. Reports suggest his father and a clergy member may have assisted law enforcement.
Clues in the case were initially scant — a partial palm print, a shoe sole impression, and a rifle abandoned in nearby woods. Investigators received over 7,000 tips after a $100,000 reward was announced, many spurred by blurry photos and short video clips released by the FBI. Officials said Robinson’s “college-age” appearance allowed him to blend into the campus crowd before firing a single fatal shot from a rooftop.
President Donald Trump, speaking in a Friday interview, confirmed that the man arrested was indeed the person seen in the FBI’s images. “Sometimes, those close to you can recognize even something small, like a tilt of the head,” he remarked. Trump added that investigators would share more details but expressed confidence in Robinson’s capture.
The murder weapon, a Mauser .30-caliber bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel, was recovered with one spent cartridge and three live rounds still in the chamber. Ballistics testing is underway.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, though officials are considering political violence as a possible angle. Kirk, a vocal conservative and close Trump ally, was known for his outspoken positions on issues ranging from Palestine to U.S. gun laws.
In the hours after the shooting, two individuals were briefly detained but later released after being cleared of involvement.
Trump, calling Kirk “the finest person” and a “hardworking patriot,” said he hoped the suspect faces the death penalty. He also announced that Kirk would be posthumously awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor.
