The alleged shooter of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk reportedly confessed to the crime on the messaging platform Discord, as confirmed by a company spokesperson to CBS. The suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, communicated with friends in a chat on Discord just hours before his arrest last week, following the shooting incident that took place during an event at Utah Valley University.
According to the spokesperson, Robinson messaged his friends, saying, “It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all of this.” This message, allegedly from Robinson's account, sheds light on his state of mind leading up to his arrest. Although he has not yet been formally charged, Robinson is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice, with the potential to face the death penalty.
The messages attributed to Robinson were first reported by the Washington Post and are believed to have been sent towards the end of a manhunt that lasted over a day. Kirk, aged 31 and a controversial figure in US politics, was shot in the neck during an open-air event at Utah Valley University, organized by Turning Point USA, which he co-founded. His death has ignited outrage across the political spectrum, with both Democrats and Republicans exchanging accusations of promoting hateful rhetoric.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that Robinson was arrested after he confessed to his father about the shooting and was persuaded to turn himself in. Law enforcement sources revealed to CBS News that Robinson and his friends had joked about the shooting in a group chat on Discord, which included more than 20 participants. A spokesperson for Discord indicated that their internal investigation found no evidence suggesting that Robinson had planned the shooting or promoted violence on their platform.
In the group chat, friends questioned Robinson about his involvement in the shooting, to which he did not deny. There were also humorous remarks from participants about him avoiding McDonald’s, referencing a previous arrest of another suspect. Messages thought to belong to Robinson also indicated an intention to surrender, with one reading, “I’m surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments, thanks for all the good times and laughs, you’ve all been so amazing.”
Governor Cox mentioned on Monday that Robinson was not cooperating with authorities, although his roommate was. In an interview with Fox News, FBI director Kash Patel disclosed that investigators found a text message exchange on Robinson's phone where he expressed his intent to confront Kirk, stating he had the opportunity to “take out Charlie Kirk.” Authorities are currently working to determine a motive for the shooting.
Cox has commented that Robinson, a native of Utah, appears to have been deeply influenced by leftist ideologies. Public records suggest that Robinson had previously registered as an unaffiliated or nonpartisan voter in Utah, while his parents are registered Republicans. However, a family member reportedly indicated to investigators that Robinson had grown increasingly political in recent years and had mentioned Kirk’s upcoming visit during a family dinner.
Amidst this tragic event, Stephen Miller, a top official in the Trump administration, has suggested that there may have been an organized campaign behind the assassination. However, no evidence has surfaced to confirm that Robinson acted as part of a group. Charlie Kirk was recently featured on his podcast, the Charlie Kirk Show, in an episode guest-hosted by Vice President JD Vance.
Investigators are also delving into Robinson’s social media accounts to find any signs that might indicate prior knowledge of the shooting or encouragement from others. The situation continues to unfold as authorities seek to piece together the events leading up to this shocking act of violence.
