The man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, a Utah native who had been living with his parents for a long time, authorities said.
Mr. Robinson was taken into custody on 12 September after a family member recognized him in surveillance images, a development investigators described as pivotal in ending a nationwide manhunt.
That family member was apparently Mr. Robinson's father, who encouraged him to turn himself in, the BBC's US partner CBS News has reported, citing two law enforcement sources. The father then reportedly reached out to a family friend who contacted the sheriff's office.
At a press briefing on Friday announcing the arrest, FBI officials declined to discuss Mr. Robinson's background, political leanings, or possible motive, saying the investigation was ongoing.
We are confident we have the right individual in custody, an FBI spokesperson said, but we are still working to establish the full picture of who he is and why he acted.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that a family member interviewed by investigators suggested that Mr. Robinson had become more political in recent years. The relative claimed that, during a dinner conversation before the attack, Mr. Robinson had said Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate and mentioned Kirk's upcoming event at Utah Valley University.
Public records reviewed by the BBC suggest Mr. Robinson had previously registered as an unaffiliated voter in Utah. His parents, Matthew Carl Robinson and Amber Denise Robinson, are registered Republicans, according to state records. Mr. Robinson was not enrolled at UVU and had only attended Utah State University for a single semester in 2021.
Investigators have pointed to inscriptions on shell casings linked to the case, with some referencing online trolling culture and others displaying sentiments related to the Antifa movement. His apparent online presence included involvement on Discord, where he purportedly exchanged messages about firearms.
Mr. Robinson remains in custody as prosecutors prepare formal charges, and the investigation continues into what officials describe as one of the most significant political killings in recent U.S. history.
