Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested over the shooting of prominent right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, who was gunned down at a rally in Utah on September 10
Tyler Robinson, aged 22, has been apprehended in connection with the shooting of renowned right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was a close ally of Donald Trump and co-founder of youth organisation Turning Point USA. He was shot and killed at a debate at Utah Valley University on September 10, in what authorities are calling a political assassination.
Robinson was identified after Trump announced on Fox News that officials were highly confident that a young man in custody was the suspected shooter.
The President further revealed that “someone very close” to the suspect – whom he referred to as a “person of faith, a minister” – approached “the father”. Trump then stated that the “father convinced the son” to turn himself in to a US Marshal.
Trump shared that the suspect’s father told his son they had “got to go in”, adding: “They drove into the police headquarters, and he’s there now.”, reports the Mirror.
The President also mentioned that he was unsure if the suspect was part of a larger network, while not disclosing the individual’s identity.
In a heartfelt tribute to his friend, Trump described Kirk as being “like a son” to him and expressed his hope that the killer would face the death penalty. The Commander-in-chief concluded: “Things may change, but facts are the facts, we have who we’re looking for.”
Officers detained two individuals following the incident, though both were subsequently released without charges after being cleared of any involvement in the shooting. Kirk had been addressing a debate organised by his organisation and was responding to an audience member’s question about gun violence when he was struck in the neck.
Kirk had been speaking into a handheld microphone moments before a single lethal shot rang out, hitting him in the neck. Shocked onlookers could be heard gasping and screaming, as the crowd of 3,000 people assembled in the university courtyard fled for cover.
The FBI issued a collection of footage showing a suspect who appeared to be positioned on the rooftop of the Losee Center Building, approximately 180 metres from where Kirk was seated in a temporary tent – decorated with the banners: “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong”.
Authorities revealed information about their suspected gunman, describing them as appearing “to be of college age” and having “blended in” amongst the roughly 3,000-strong university crowd who had come to witness Kirk’s debate.
Law enforcement seemed baffled regarding the shooter’s identity, admitting they had “no idea” whether the assassin remained in Utah or had escaped to another state a day following the killing. A massive manhunt was initiated as police offered a £100,000 reward for the shooter.
Days following the shooting, officials remained unable to identify a suspect or reveal potential motives behind the assassination. However, Utah’s public safety commissioner disclosed that the gunman appeared to be of “college age” and had successfully “blended in” amongst fellow students.
Twenty-four hours after the attack, the FBI issued CCTV footage of a “person of interest” sought in relation to Charlie Kirk’s murder. The individual was captured wearing a black long-sleeved T-shirt featuring an American flag design, blue trousers, Converse-style footwear, a cap and sunglasses.
A separate image revealed them carrying an overstuffed large rucksack.
Officials also confirmed they had recovered a high-calibre rifle, believed to be the weapon used in the fatal shooting, from a wooded section of the university campus. Authorities noted that the firearm bore engravings which could provide clues about the killer’s motivations.
Within hours of the conservative activist’s death, Donald Trump filmed a statement from the White House, describing Kirk as a “martyr for truth and freedom” whilst attributing blame to the “radical left’s” inflammatory language for the killing.
Addressing the nation from behind the Resolute Desk, the US president declared: “Charlie inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror. Charlie is a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loves so much, the United States of America.”
The President subsequently announced his intention to posthumously bestow upon Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom – America’s most prestigious civilian accolade.
On Thursday, Kirk’s coffin touched down in his native Arizona after being transported from Salt Lake City aboard Air Force Two. His widow made her first public appearance since his passing, disembarking the aircraft with her arm linked around JD Vance’s spouse, Usha, whilst the Vice President trailed behind.
Both women donned black attire and shielded their eyes behind dark sunglasses, with Kirk’s wife, Erika, appearing deeply distressed. JD Vance had accompanied the fallen provocateur’s remains onto Air Force Two and solemnly placed his hand upon the coffin as they traversed the airport runway.
Vance characterised himself as Kirk’s mate, declaring in a statement: “A while ago, probably in 2017, I appeared on Tucker Carlson’s Fox show to talk about God knows what. Afterwards a name I barely knew sent me a DM on twitter and told me I did a great job. It was Charlie Kirk, and that moment of kindness began a friendship that lasted until today.”
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