Introduction to the Charlie Kirk Assassination
Authorities are still trying to learn more about what motivated the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a college in Utah, as authorities aim to bring formal charges this week against the man they arrested in connection with the killing.
Tyler James Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder and other felony offenses. Prosecutors are drawing up formal charges that could be filed as early as Tuesday, when he will make his first court appearance. Authorities have said the crimes in Kirk’s death include aggravated murder, obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm.
Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s relatives and carried out a search warrant at his family’s home in Washington, about 240 miles southwest of Utah Valley University, where the shooting took place.
Key Facts About the Killing
Here are things to know about the killing:
Evidence in the Case
DNA on a towel wrapped around a rifle found near where Charlie Kirk was assassinated matched that of Robinson, FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News on Monday.
Investigators also have used DNA evidence to link Robinson with a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired, Patel said.
Patel told Fox News that Robinson had written in a note before the shooting that he had an opportunity to take out Kirk and was going to do it. Investigators were able to recover the note’s contents after it had been destroyed, the FBI director said, paraphrasing from the note without revealing more details.
Motive Behind the Attack
Authorities have not provided many details about why they think Robinson carried out the attack on Kirk.
“There clearly was a leftist ideology,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on NBC’s Meet the Press, noting that family and friends described Robinson’s politics as veering left in recent years. They recounted to authorities a dinner table conversation in which he mentioned Kirk’s upcoming visit to Utah Valley University.
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Cox said Robinson is “not cooperating” and that friends paint a picture of someone radicalized in the dark corners of the internet. Cox stressed on several Sunday morning news shows that investigators are still trying to pin down a motive for the attack on the father of two and confidant of President Donald Trump.
State records show Robinson is registered to vote but is not affiliated with a political party and is listed as inactive, meaning he did not vote in the two most recent general elections. His parents are registered Republicans.
Ammunition found with the weapon used to kill Kirk was engraved with taunting messages.
Who is Tyler James Robinson?
He grew up around St. George, in the southwestern corner of Utah, between Las Vegas and natural landmarks including Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.
Robinson became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church, at a young age, church spokesperson Doug Andersen said.
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Robinson has two younger brothers, and his parents have been married for about 25 years, according to social media posts. Online activity by Robinson’s mother reflects an active family that took vacations to Disneyland, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Alaska.
Like many in that part of Utah, they frequently spent time outdoors — boating, fishing, riding ATVs, zip-lining and target shooting. A 2017 post shows the family visiting a military facility and posing with assault rifles. A young Robinson is seen smiling as he grips the handles of a .50-caliber heavy machine gun.
A high school honor roll student who scored in the 99th percentile nationally on standardized tests, he was admitted to Utah State University in 2021 on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a video of him reading his acceptance letter that was posted to a family member’s social media account.
But he attended for only one semester, according to a university spokesperson. He is currently enrolled as a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George.
Fallout from the Assassination
It prompted calls for greater civility in the country’s political discourse, especially on social media. But many people have made comments about Kirk and the shooting that brought consequences. Numerous workers have been fired for their comments on Kirk’s death, among them MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd.
It’s not the first time people have lost jobs over things they say publicly, but the speed of the firings has raised questions about free speech rights.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ education commissioner warned teachers in the state that making “disgusting” statements about Kirk’s assassination could draw sanctions, including the suspension or revocation of their teaching licenses.
A conservative internet personality who is embedded with immigration agents in Chicago filmed a video outside Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s private home in which he urged viewers to “take action” after Kirk’s assassination. Pritzker’s office said his security has been increased in recent days.
Partisans have been fighting over who’s to blame for Kirk’s death, but experts on political violence say many of those who commit such crimes seem to act on beliefs that don’t map clearly onto partisan lines. They say the broader
