During a press conference held in Orem on Sept.12, Gov. Spencer J. Cox announced Charlie Kirk’s murder suspect is now in custody.
The suspect is Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Washington, Utah.
“We got him,” Cox said. He explained that Robinson’s family member reached out to a friend and indicated that Robinson had confessed.
Cox said Robinson’s family shared with investigators that Robinson had become more political recently and had been expressing his disagreement with Kirk’s views at a family dinner.
According to Cox, Robinson’s roommate showed investigators a conversation he had with Robinson on Discord, which included messages about leaving a rifle in a bush and engravings on bullets.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Sheriff Mike Smith were also present and joined Cox in thanking law enforcement for the ongoing investigation, the public, Robinson’s family members for releasing information and Kirk’s family.
Patel expressed appreciation to those who participated in the fast-paced investigation. He said it lasted 33 hours from the time agents arrived on the scene until 10 p.m. Thursday, when Robinson was taken into custody.
“This would not have been possible without you, the media, and you, the public. That’s why we went so public so fast,” Patel said.
Cox said this event received such thorough investigation because it was not just an attack on Kirk, but “an attack on all of us.” He expressed his concern that in the future people will be more hesitant to voice their beliefs when the American ideal is freedom of speech.
Cox said that he had never felt so angry and so sad, but reading some of Kirk’s words gave him comfort.
“When you stop having a human connection with someone you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to commit violence. What we as a culture have to get back to is being able to have a reasonable agreement where violence is not an option,” Cox quoted Kirk.
Cox encouraged youth in particular to take an active role in what he called a “turning point” in history. He called for creating a culture where violence is not acceptable and where differences can be embraced.
“I still believe that there is more good among us than evil, and I still believe that we can change the course of history. I’m hopeful because Americans can make it so,” Cox said.
The charging documents for Tyler Robinson included an affidavit of probable cause written by Officer Brian Davis, outlining the evidence investigators said links Robinson to the shooting.
“Based on the evidence detailed in this statement, I believe there is probable cause that Tyler Robinson committed the crimes of aggravated murder by shooting Charlie Kirk in a circumstance that put many around him at grave risk of death, felony discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice for moving and hiding the rifle believed to be used in the shooting,” Davis wrote.
This evening, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement:
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints condemns horrific acts of violence worldwide, including the recent assassination in Utah. We affirm our repeated calls to seek peace and unity despite our differences. Jesus Christ teaches us to love one another, that hate is wrong and that human life is sacred. We urge all to reject violence and instead build understanding. Recognizing that we are all children of God, we must treat one another with more dignity, compassion and respect. As we mourn with those who have experienced loss and care for those living in fear or conflict, we call upon people everywhere to build communities of greater kindness and love."