22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been arrested for the assassination of well-known conservative leader Charlie Kirk.
“We got him,” Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah said at a news conference on Friday.
Family members reported to law enforcement that Robinson confessed, or suggested, he committed the crime. They also reported that Robinson appeared radicalized recently and expressed strong opposition to Kirk’s beliefs.
Officials also interviewed the suspect’s roommate, who revealed Discord discussions that he had with the suspect, which helped in their investigation.
Surveillance footage from Utah Valley University shows Robinson arriving near the campus in a Dodge Challenger on Wednesday morning, about four hours before the attack, Cox said.
Kirk was shot at 12:23 p.m. 16 minutes later, FBI agents arrived on scene, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
The suspect was captured in less than 33 hours, a “historic time period,” Patel said.
Cox confirmed there were engravings on unfired ammunition, with one of them reading, “Hey fascist! Catch!” Another engraving said, “If you read this, you are gay LMAO,” which is an acronym for “laughing my ass off.”
Friday’s arrest comes after authorities urged the public to come forward with tips and videos of the event that may help in their investigation.
Officials also previously released several images of what they described as a “college-aged” man wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, dark pants, a dark-colored hat, and sunglasses. They also released footage of an individual climbing down and jumping from the side of the building on campus.
The political leader and media personality was known for conducting campus debates with college students on controversial political topics. He was speaking at what was intended to be the opening event of his “American Comeback Tour” at the college in Orem, Utah.
Kirk was shot about half an hour later in the neck while taking questions from the audience.
Two individuals were previously questioned and released on Wednesday in connection with the shooting.
A “bolt action high-powered rifle” used in the shooting has been recovered in a wooded area near campus. It will be examined closely and analyzed, the FBI said.
The Utah governor called for peace and humanity going forward, condemning political violence in the wake of Kirk’s killing.
“History will dictate if this is a turning point for our country,” Cox said.
No additional arrests are expected, Cox said, but the investigation is ongoing.
Robinson has been booked into the Utah County Jail.
