Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Friday that investigators captured 22-year-old Tyler Robinson 33 hours after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead at Utah Valley University, crediting a family tip that set off the final lead.
“We got him,” Cox announced, flanked by federal and state officials.
Cox said a family member contacted a family friend, who then alerted a sheriff after Robinson confessed or strongly implied responsibility. Officials added that Robinson had become “more political” and had complained about Kirk before the visit.
Separately, President Donald Trump said on TV that “someone very close to him” turned him in.
Investigators said the case moved fast: photos of the suspect went public Thursday morning, a $100,000 FBI reward followed, and by late evening the suspect was in custody. FBI Director Kash Patel called the progress “historic,” with 11,000 leads logged by Friday morning.
Authorities stressed that Robinson is not enrolled at UVU and had long been living with his family in Washington County. Surveillance showed a grey Dodge Challenger arriving on campus at about 8:29 am local time on Sept. 10, with clothing later matching what investigators saw when they encountered Robinson early Sept. 12. Officials said only one shot was fired during Kirk’s event.
Key forensic threads, officials said, included Discord messages from an account named “Tyler” about retrieving a rifle from a drop point, wrapping it in a towel, and engraving bullets. Investigators also cited rooftop prints and footage of a person running across a roof near the courtyard where Kirk was speaking. A bolt-action rifle was recovered nearby.
Cox detailed engraved inscriptions found on casings: the fired casing read “Notices bulges OWO what’s this?”; unfired rounds included “Hey fascist! Catch!” with arrow symbols, “Oh Bella Ciao…,” and “If you read this you are gay lmao.”
Officials said no additional suspects are being sought at this time. Cox publicly thanked the suspect’s family for “doing the right thing,” while Patel praised joint work by state and federal teams. 
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