A 22-year-old Utah man, identified by authorities as Tyler Robinson, is in custody as the suspected gunman in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at an event at Utah Valley University, law-enforcement officials and multiple news agencies reported Friday. The arrest followed a focused manhunt and the release of surveillance images by federal investigators.
Officials said Robinson was taken into custody after tips led investigators to a person of interest; President Donald Trump and law-enforcement sources said someone close to the suspect recognized him from images and alerted authorities. Federal teams including the FBI are assisting local law enforcement in an ongoing investigation.
Authorities believe the attack was carried out from a distance using a bolt-action rifle recovered near the scene; investigators also reported finding bullet casings with inscriptions and are combing digital and physical evidence to establish a motive and whether the suspect acted alone. Officials have cautioned that the probe remains active and that the public should await formal charging decisions.
Law enforcement described the killing as a targeted, politically charged act, and some investigators say the suspect had recently expressed increasingly political views and opposition to Kirk’s positions. At a news briefing, officials stressed they were pursuing all leads — including electronic communications, witness statements and forensic evidence — to determine planning, intent and any possible accomplices.
The shooting has drawn swift condemnation from across the political spectrum and triggered a broader conversation about political rhetoric and safety at public events. Turning Point USA, allies and national political figures called for calm while urging authorities to fully pursue the investigation. Campus authorities temporarily closed parts of the university and increased security at other events.
Robinson’s arrest is an initial step in what officials said will be a detailed criminal and forensic process; prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges as investigators compile evidence. Anyone with video, photos or information related to the shooting has been asked to contact the FBI or local law-enforcement hotlines as the inquiry continues.
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