Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson is in custody; family turned him in

OREM, UTAH - The suspect arrested and accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been identified by officials as 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said at a press conference on Friday morning that investigators arrested and identified Robinson after analyzing surveillance footage, interviewing Robinson's family members and reviewing online messages between Robinson and his roommate.

"We got him," Cox said, standing with FBI Director Kash Patel and other law enforcement officials. Robinson is expected to be charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA and an influential voice in the Trump administration, was shot and killed Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University, a public school south of Salt Lake City. His killing launched a multi-day manhunt among local, state and federal authorities.

The investigation and arrest

Cox said that a family member of Robinson's — Robinson's father, according to two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation — 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.

The governor said that investigators interviewed a family member of Robinson's who said he had "become more political in recent years."

"The family member referenced a recent incident in which Robinson came to dinner prior to September 10, and in the conversation with another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU," Cox said. "They talked about why they didn't like him and the viewpoints he had."

Cox said that investigators interviewed Robinson's roommate, who showed authorities messages on Discord between Robinson and his roommate.

The messages associated with the name Tyler state "a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush," engraving bullets, "having left the rifle wrapped in a towel" and "a mention of a scope and the rifle being unique," Cox said.

Authorities said on Thursday that recovered a "high-powered, bolt-action rifle" in a wooded area just off the of the university campus in conditions that match Robinson's messages.

Cox said the rifle was Mauser 98 .30-06 and had a scope mounted on top of it. He added that inscriptions engraved on casings found with the rifle.

One of the inscriptions had the lyrics to the Italian folk song “Bella Ciao," Cox said. Another read “Hey fascists! Catch!” with an up arrow, a right arrow and three down arrows. A third stated, "If you read this, you are gay LMAO.”

The governor added that investigators also identified Robinson in surveillance from the Utah Valley University — where Kirk was killed on Wednesday — which showed him arriving to UVU at 8:29 a.m. in a gray Dodge Challenger.

NBC News’ searches of state and national public records associated with Robinson’s name and date of birth found no indication of the 22 year old having a prior criminal record.

Public records indicate that Robinson's last voter registration date was on July 13, 2021, and his political party is none declared.

Robinson went to Utah State University for one semester in 2021, a spokesperson for the university confirmed to NBC News.

Kristin Schwiermann, 66, is one of Robinson's neighbors, worked as a custodian at his elementary school and knew him and his family from church. She described him as being "very considerate," "quiet" and "respectful." (Source: NBC News)