NextFin news, Utah authorities arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, on Friday, September 12, 2025, in St. George, Utah, in connection with the shooting death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Orem earlier this week.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday afternoon, September 10, 2025, during a university event where Kirk was speaking to a crowd of thousands. Kirk was fatally shot at approximately 12:23 p.m. local time.
Robinson, who is not a current student at the university, was identified as the suspect after a family member alerted law enforcement, indicating that Robinson had confessed or implied involvement in the shooting. Authorities also found physical evidence linking Robinson to the crime, including messages he sent on the Discord app about retrieving a rifle from a drop point and inscriptions on bullet casings found at the scene.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox held a news conference on Friday, confirming Robinson's arrest and stating that Robinson acted alone. The governor also called for calm and forgiveness amid heightened political tensions following the assassination.
Robinson was seen arriving on campus in a Dodge Challenger at 8:29 a.m. on the day of the shooting, wearing a maroon t-shirt, light-colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo, and light-colored shoes. He reportedly changed clothes on the roof before the shooting and left a rifle wrapped in a towel in a nearby wooded area before fleeing.
The suspect was apprehended about 250 miles southwest of the university in St. George late Thursday night. He has been booked into Utah County jail and is expected to be charged with aggravated murder.
President Donald Trump confirmed the arrest on Friday morning during a Fox News interview, describing the suspect as a radical on the left. Governor Cox, however, emphasized that only the suspect is responsible for the shooting and urged the public to reduce political violence and social media hostility.
The FBI had offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest. The investigation remains ongoing.
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