In a shocking turn of events, Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old, was arrested for allegedly killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Just hours prior to his arrest, Robinson appeared to take responsibility for the shooting in a message shared with friends on the popular chat platform Discord. A company spokesperson confirmed this information to CBS News on Monday.
In a message reportedly sent from an account believed to belong to Robinson, he wrote, “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I'm sorry for all of this.” These messages were initially reported by The Washington Post and came during a nearly two-day-long manhunt following Kirk's tragic shooting at an outdoor event held at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
According to Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Robinson confessed to his father about his involvement in the shooting. Law enforcement officials confirmed that Robinson was taken into custody late Thursday night, as stated by FBI Director Kash Patel on Friday. This followed Patel's order for the release of several surveillance photos of the suspected shooter, along with a public appeal for assistance in solving the case, which garnered nationwide attention and raised concerns about political violence.
Throughout the investigation, two law enforcement sources revealed that Robinson and his friends engaged in banter about the shooting within a group of over 20 people on Discord, a platform primarily frequented by gamers. A spokesperson for Discord noted that an internal investigation found no evidence indicating that Robinson had planned the incident or promoted violence on their platform.
During the discussions, at least three friends inquired if Robinson was the shooter, suggesting that he resembled the photos released by the FBI. Notably, he did not deny the allegations. In one exchange, a friend humorously cautioned Robinson to avoid McDonald's—a reference to another high-profile shooting incident involving accused UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione. The friend jokingly wrote, “Whatever you do, don't go to a McDonald's anytime soon.” Robinson's alleged response was, “Better also get rid of this manifesto and exact copy rifle I have lying around.”
Before his arrest, messages from Robinson’s account hinted at a desire to turn himself in to authorities. A Discord spokesperson confirmed a message stating, “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, thank you all for everything.”
Robinson was ultimately arrested on charges of aggravated murder, obstruction, and firearm offenses. Governor Cox announced that the state plans to pursue the death penalty in this case. Following the arrest, Christopher Ballard, chief of staff for the Utah County Attorney's Office, indicated that Robinson could make his first court appearance on Tuesday afternoon after formal charges are filed.
Reports from law enforcement sources indicate that Robinson's arrest occurred after his father saw the FBI's images and confronted him. Robinson admitted to being the individual in the photos, but when his father urged him to turn himself in, he expressed a preference for suicide. In an effort to calm the situation, Robinson's father called a youth pastor for assistance. However, the pastor, who also serves as a court security officer, contacted the U.S. Marshals Service for further action.
