The person accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk is 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson, according to five law enforcement officials briefed on the matter.
Authorities released surveillance video of the suspected gunman on Thursday, in addition to images showing the suspect walking to and from Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot and killed on Wednesday.
One of Robinson’s family members turned him in to police after seeing the images, according to two senior law enforcement officials.
It appears that Robinson’s last voter registration date was on July 13, 2021, and his political party is none declared based on public records.
Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA and an influential voice in the Trump administration, was shot and killed Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University, a public school south of Salt Lake City.
The event was hosted by the school’s chapter of Turning Point USA, a group Kirk founded that organizes and mobilizes young conservatives.
President Donald Trump, who announced Kirk’s death on Wednesday, was again first to share that the suspect in Kirk’s slaying was in custody on Friday morning.
“I think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him — in custody … everyone did a great job we worked with the local police, the governor, everybody did a great job,” he said in an interview on Fox News.
Trump suggested that the suspect’s father turned him into authorities.
“Somebody that’s close recognizes even a little tilt of the head, which nobody else would do,” Trump said “And somebody that was very close to him said ‘hm, that’s him’ and essentially went to the father, went to a US Marshal.”
“And the father convinced the son, ‘this is it,'” Trump added.
Video released by authorities Thursday captured the person they described as the shooter running across a building’s roof and descending onto a grassy area below. The person can then be seen walking past a parking lot toward a busy road.
Further images released show what appears to be a young, thin man wearing a black long sleeved T-shirt with an American flag on it, black sunglasses, an Adidas hat, jeans and converse sneakers
The FBI was analyzing a weapon described as high-powered bolt-action rifle that was recovered in a wooded area where the shooter is believed to have fled, according to the public safety department. Investigators were also examining trace evidence collected from the rooftop — a palm print, a forearm imprint and a shoe impression, the FBI said.
In a statement, Turning Point USA said Kirk had faced “thousands” of threats throughout his life but “always prioritized reaching as many young Americans as possible over his own personal safety.”
“All of us will miss Charlie,” the group said. “None of us will ever forget him.”
Chloe Atkins and Tim Stelloh contributed.
