‘We got him:’ U.S. authorities say alleged Charlie Kirk shooter in custody

A suspect is now in custody in connection to the shooting death of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University Wednesday.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox began the press conference announcing the news Friday saying that the suspect he identified as Tyler Robinson of Utah was arrested the night before and is expected to soon be criminally charged.

“We got him,” Cox told reporters.

“On the evening of Sept. 11, a family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident.”

In responding to reporters, Cox went on to describe in more detail how Robinson’s arrest unfolded on Thursday evening.

“(Robinson’s) family and a friend helped to deliver him into the custody of law enforcement in Washington County. Those of you that don’t know where Washington County is, it is the most southwestern of the state of Utah. That’s where he lived and where they turned him into police.”

Cox described the killing as a “political assassination.”

“This is certainly about the tragic death (and) political assassination of Charlie Kirk,” Cox said at the press conference.

“It is also much bigger than an attack on an individual. It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment. It is an attack on our ideals. This cuts to the very foundation of who we are, of who we have been and who we could be in better times.“

Cox also described what he says investigators heard from those who know the suspect.

“Investigators interviewed a family member of Robinson who stated that Robinson had become more political in recent years,” Cox said.

“The family member referenced a recent incident in which Robinson came to dinner prior to Sept. 10, and in that conversation with another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU (Utah Valley University). They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had. The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.“

Robinson was brought into police custody after a manhunt lasted nearly two days following the fatal shooting of Kirk. Both federal and state officials said they received thousands of tips from the public, and had on Thursday released images and videos of the suspect they allege was Robinson.

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Utah’s governor said Thursday the death penalty will be pursued.

2:11 Charlie Kirk shot dead at Utah campus in ‘political assassination’

On Sept. 10, Kirk had arrived for a scheduled appearance at Utah Valley University at an outdoor venue shortly after 12:00 p.m. local time.

Kirk was an American conservative political activist and commentor, who co-founded Turning Point USA, which describes itself a non-profit organization with a “mission to identify, educate, train and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.”

Kirk was also considered a close ally of United States President Donald Trump, who posted on social media about Kirk’s death.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!” wrote Trump on Truth Social.

Kirk was seen speaking to the crowd using a handheld microphone during the event in Utah, while sitting under a white tent, with signs and slogans that read “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.”

Videos that quickly circulated on social media showed Kirk being shot in the neck while on stage, and large amounts of blood before the crowd began to flee.

Cox alleged at the press conference Friday that Robinson arrived on the campus prior to the event on Sept. 10 in a grey Dodge Challenger at approximately 8:29 a.m. local time, and that he was not a student at the college.

In a previous statement, Beau Mason, commissioner for the Utah Department of Public Safety, said at the time that a “person of interest” was seen on surveillance footage in stairwells.

Authorities say Robinson attempted to flee after the alleged incident.

2:09 Charlie Kirk’s assassination highlights alarming rise of U.S. political violence

Surveillance footage released by the Salt Lake City FBI in Utah shows what they described at the time as a suspect jumping from a rooftop on a far end of the Losee Center on the campus away from the crowd, and into a grassy area by a parking lot.

The person then crosses a nearby road and out of the camera’s view.

Cox said investigators who combed the area after the shooting found a weapon they believe was involved.

“Investigators discovered a bolt action rifle wrapped in a dark colored towel. The rifle was determined to be a Mauser model 98, 36 caliber bolt-action rifle. The rifle had a scope mounted on top of it.“

Cox went on to say authorities “know that he drove,” both to the campus before the killing, and presumably after in his attempt to flee.

“We do know that he drove. We had his car here, on campus,” said Cox speaking to reporters.

“And then we had his car going south, back to Saint George (Robinson’s home town). It’s actually the city of Washington in Washington County.”

Cox also said Robinson was turned into police where he lived, which is several hours from where the shooting took place.

Robinson remains in custody awaiting criminal charges.

He has not been convicted of the allegations, and has not entered any plea asserting either guilt or innocence.

– With files from The Associated Press.