Utah, USA —The Charlie Kirk shooting suspect is now in custody after allegedly confessing to his father, ending a 33-hour manhunt that began after the fatal on-campus shooting of the conservative activist. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, surrendered peacefully following emotional conversations with both his father and a family friend who serves as a youth pastor.

Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old man from Utah, has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspect surrendered to authorities after reportedly confessing to his father, bringing a 33-hour manhunt to an end.

The incident occurred during a campus event at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday afternoon, where Kirk was speaking in an open forum with students. The shooting shocked many across the country and has further deepened political tensions in the U.S.

Confession Led to Arrest

According to authorities, Robinson told his father he was responsible for the shooting and expressed suicidal thoughts rather than being taken into custody. His father immediately reached out to a family friend — a youth pastor — who also works as a court security officer. Together, they worked to de-escalate the situation and persuaded Robinson to surrender peacefully.

The U.S. Marshals were contacted shortly afterward, and Robinson was apprehended in Washington County, Utah, late Thursday evening, roughly 250 miles from the UVU campus. He was reportedly taken without resistance.

President Donald Trump, who publicly acknowledged Kirk’s death shortly after the news broke, announced Robinson’s arrest on social media and called for the death penalty to be considered in the case.

Planned and Political

Surveillance footage from the university showed Robinson arriving on campus about four hours before the shooting occurred. He was later seen on the roof of a building roughly 130 meters from where Kirk was speaking in an outdoor quad. A single shot rang out, fatally striking Kirk and causing chaos among students and attendees.

Authorities revealed that messages recovered from the messaging app Discord suggest the attack may have been premeditated. Using an account identified as “Tyler,” the suspect discussed retrieving a rifle from a hidden location — described as a “drop point” — where it had been concealed under a towel in a bush.

Police later recovered the weapon believed to have been used in the attack: an imported Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle with a mounted scope. The rifle was found in a wooded area near campus, wrapped in a towel. Engraved on shell casings found with the rifle were disturbing inscriptions such as “Hey fascist! CATCH!” and the Italian phrase “O Bella ciao, Bella ciao” — a reference to an anti-fascist resistance song from World War II.

Suspect’s Background and Motive

Investigators say Robinson had become increasingly political in recent years. A family member told police that Robinson had previously expressed anger toward Kirk, describing him as “filled with hate and spreading hate.” These comments, combined with the ideological messages found with the weapon, suggest a potential political motive, though no formal statement has been made by authorities regarding intent.

Robinson resides in St. George, Utah, and is a third-year student in an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College. According to public records, he had registered as a nonpartisan voter and did not participate in the last presidential election. His parents, Matthew and Amber Robinson, are both registered Republicans and active members of the Mormon church.

Social media profiles indicate that Robinson’s father owns a small kitchen and cabinetry installation business, while his mother is employed as a social worker.

Campus on Edge, Charges Pending

The UVU campus has remained closed since the incident, with police maintaining a strong presence. Yellow crime scene tape and patrol vehicles have cordoned off large parts of the grounds.

Many students expressed relief upon learning of Robinson’s arrest.

“I’m just glad they caught him,” said McKinley Shinkle, a first-year student. “But I also feel ashamed that he’s from my home county.” Her cousin, Anthony, added, “Now we all want to know why he did it — what made him go that far.”

Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed during a press briefing that there are no known additional suspects at this time. However, he emphasized that the investigation remains active and more details will likely emerge.

Robinson is currently being held at the Utah County Jail. According to the sheriff’s office booking records, he faces multiple charges including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm. Formal charges are expected to be filed on Tuesday.(L.Z*)