The suspect in the assassination of Charlie Kirk has been identified as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah.
According to reports, Robinson was taken into custody after being linked to the shooting that killed Kirk during a rally at Utah Valley University. Sources say he admitted what he had done to his father, a longtime member of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, who then contacted authorities and made sure his son was safely turned in.
Robinson’s mother works in social services in Utah, helping people with disabilities access care. The suspect himself was arrested late Thursday night in southern Utah, where he lived in a family home.
At this stage, little is known about Robinson’s background, and investigators have not confirmed a motive. Officials have indicated that, if convicted, he could face the death penalty.
The arrest came after a day-and-a-half manhunt that included surveillance footage of a figure fleeing across rooftops after the shooting. Earlier, a few people were mistakenly detained and later released before Robinson was identified.
Kirk, 31, was struck in the neck while speaking under a tented gazebo on campus. He collapsed immediately and later died of his injuries. The crowd of students rushed to safety in panic as first responders carried him away.
The conservative commentator leaves behind his wife, Erika, along with their two young children — a three-year-old daughter and a 16-month-old son. The couple had celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May.
President Donald Trump led tributes online, calling Kirk “a great, and even legendary” figure, while ordering U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor.