A suspect has been arrested in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, marking a major development in the case that has stunned the nation. President Donald Trump announced the arrest Friday morning during a live interview on Fox & Friends, stating authorities had a “high degree of certainty” they had the correct individual.
The FBI later confirmed the suspect’s identity as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a Utah native and student at Utah State University. According to reports from Daily Mail, Robinson was taken into custody late Thursday night in Washington, Utah—approximately 260 miles from the Utah Valley University (UVU) campus where Kirk was fatally shot.
Robinson’s arrest came after a dramatic twist: the suspect reportedly confessed to his father, Matt Robinson, a 27-year veteran of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. Sources say the father immediately contacted authorities and helped secure his son before police arrived. The family lives in a six-bedroom home and is described as well-connected and active in the community.
The assassination occurred on September 10 while Kirk was answering a question about mass shootings during an outdoor event on UVU’s campus. A single shot was fired from approximately 200 yards away, striking Kirk in the neck. The moment was captured on video and shared widely across social media, showing the conservative commentator collapse as the crowd panicked.
At a press conference Thursday night, authorities confirmed that Robinson will face the death penalty if convicted. Law enforcement officials noted that the shooter used a high-powered rifle and likely acted alone, though investigations into any ideological or network connections are ongoing.
President Trump, visibly shaken by the news, said Kirk was “the finest person” and a “martyr for truth and freedom.” He praised the law enforcement agencies involved and called for the harshest penalty if Robinson is found guilty. “I hope he gets the death penalty,” Trump said. “What he did—Charlie Kirk didn’t deserve this.”
Kirk, 31, leaves behind his wife, Erika Frantzve, and their two young children. Known for his “Prove Me Wrong” campus debates and leadership of Turning Point USA, his death has ignited renewed debate over political violence, free speech, and campus security.
