Just hours before officers closed in, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson allegedly posted a chilling message to friends on Discord—appearing to acknowledge responsibility for the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Investigators now say those online exchanges could become pivotal evidence.
In the chaotic day after Kirk was struck by a single round while speaking at Utah Valley University, a key lead didn’t come from a traffic cam or a phoned-in tip, but from a group chat. Robinson—arrested roughly 33 hours after the attack—appears to have written a message that read:
“Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this.”
According to platform statements and law enforcement, that post surfaced hours before the arrest. A Discord spokesperson told CBS News the message appeared in the company’s internal review.
Kirk had been addressing more than 3,000 attendees at a Turning Point USA event when a bullet struck his neck. He was rushed to a hospital and later pronounced dead. Former President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social, and an intense, multijurisdictional manhunt followed. The FBI quickly released surveillance images and appealed for public help; by about a day and a half later, authorities located Robinson after someone “close” to him contacted authorities.
While the photos were circulating, multiple sources say Robinson and members of a 20+ person Discord group exchanged messages ranging from gallows humor to what now reads like admission. Two people familiar with the chat told The Washington Post that the account believed to be Robinson’s posted the same acknowledgement quoted above. Discord likewise said its review found the message.
Other snippets cited by investigators captured the tone: after users tagged Robinson and joked with “wya 💀” as the FBI images spread, one participant wrote, “Tyler killed Charlie!!!” Robinson reportedly didn’t issue a flat denial. In one exchange, after a user quipped, “Whatever you do don’t go to a mcdonalds anytime soon,” referencing an unrelated high-profile case, the account attributed to Robinson replied:
“Better also get rid of this manifesto and exact copy rifle I have lying around.”
Near the end of the thread, the same account allegedly suggested he planned to surrender:
“im surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments, thanks for all the good times and laughs, you’ve all been so amazing, thank you all for everything.”
Discord has said its internal probe found no evidence the platform was used to plan or promote the attack, and denied that it served as an organizational tool for the shooting.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Robinson was taken into custody late Thursday. Utah officials have charged him with aggravated murder, obstruction, and firearms offenses, and Governor Spencer Cox announced the state will pursue the death penalty. Robinson, who grew up in a Republican family in St. George—about three hours from UVU—remains a puzzle to those who knew him; neighbors and former classmates recalled a polite, well-mannered student.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News that Robinson admitted to his father he was the person in the FBI photos. When the father urged him to surrender, Robinson allegedly said he would prefer to die by suicide; the father then sought help, which led others to intervene and, ultimately, to Robinson’s arrest. Authorities are still interviewing associates and working to determine motive.
Governor Cox told national outlets that Robinson has not confessed to investigators and is refusing to cooperate, while those around him have been helpful.
“He has not confessed to authorities. He is not cooperating, but all the people around him are cooperating. And I think that’s very important.”
Pressed by CNN about prior comments suggesting “leftist ideology” played a role, Cox replied:
“Just not a fan. That’s all I can say,”
clarifying that the characterization came from individuals close to the suspect. For now, the alleged Discord posts—screenshotted and shared among acquaintances who may have thought they were joking—sit in the public record and are likely to feature prominently in the prosecution’s timeline.
As debate swirled online about the reward tied to the case, one friend in the chat reportedly urged turning Robinson in for the $1.15 million bounty. The account attributed to Robinson answered with a stark line:
“Only if I get a cut.”