The FBI has released new surveillance footage of the man suspected of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking outdoors in front of thousands. The footage shows the suspect fleeing the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired, leaving behind forensic evidence such as shoe impressions, a palm print, and a forearm imprint. Authorities also recovered the suspected murder weapon—a bolt-action rifle—in a wooded area near the university.
The suspect was described as a thin male wearing sunglasses, a hat, and dark clothing. Video showed him entering the campus just before noon, climbing a stairwell, and positioning himself on a rooftop with a clear view of Kirk’s location. A single gunshot rang out at approximately 12:20 p.m., striking Kirk in the neck. The dramatic moment was captured on video, which circulated on social media, showing Kirk reacting in pain before collapsing. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Early the next morning, President Donald Trump announced during a Fox News interview that a suspect had been arrested. He claimed that the arrest came after someone “very close” to the shooter turned him in, allegedly through a minister connected to law enforcement. Trump did not reveal the suspect’s name during the interview but called for the death penalty and described Kirk as “the finest person,” mourning the loss of his friend and political ally.
Later that day, the FBI identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a Utah State University student and son of a veteran sheriff’s deputy. According to sources, Robinson confessed to his father, who then notified authorities. He was taken into custody without incident. Investigators also said that Robinson had spoken critically of Kirk in the days leading up to the event, expressing a strong dislike for Kirk’s political views and rhetoric.
Robinson reportedly became more politically radical in recent years. Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed that a family friend helped facilitate Robinson’s surrender and revealed that Robinson had made ominous statements about Kirk before the shooting. Kirk’s assassination has been labeled a political act, with questions swirling around Robinson’s potential ideological motivations.
Meanwhile, the fallout has extended into political discourse. Some public figures, including Sen. Adam Schiff, have been criticized for heated rhetoric following the shooting. The tragedy has reignited national debates over political violence and the consequences of increasingly polarized discourse in America.
