The suspect arrested within the deadly taking pictures of Charlie Kirk had an “obsession” with the conservative influencer, based mostly on the alleged shooter’s digital footprint, FBI Co-Deputy Director Dan Bongino mentioned Monday on Fox Information.
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah native, is accused of fatally taking pictures Kirk throughout an occasion at Utah Valley College on Sept. 10.
Bongino mentioned the suspect appeared to have exhibited “a number of warning indicators.”
Mugshot of Tyler Robinson, the suspect within the taking pictures of Charlie Kirk.
Courtesy of Gov. Spencer Cox
“I consider co-workers said he had indifferent himself when the subject of politics got here up and walked away,” Bongino mentioned on Fox Information’ “America’s Newsroom.”
Bongino mentioned they’re trying into whether or not anybody knew the taking pictures might occur and did not alert authorities, referring to on-line chats Robinson allegedly had about Kirk.
“Did they … hear it and assume it was a joke? That’s what we’re looking for out now,” he informed Fox Information. “If there’s a bigger community right here, we are going to get that out to the general public as quickly as we are able to.”
FBI Director Kash Patel additionally introduced on “Fox & Mates” that DNA discovered on the crime scene, particularly the towel wrapped across the firearm used within the taking pictures, and on a screwdriver, hyperlinks Robinson to the killing of the conservative influencer.
In a separate Fox Information look, Patel mentioned that Robinson “admitted” to assassinating Kirk.
“We have collected info via witness interviews, from the FBI and native legislation enforcement, that he primarily admitted after the taking pictures, an assassination of Charlie Kirk, the suspect admitted to it,” Patel mentioned on “Hannity” Monday night time.
Patel mentioned the FBI discovered “a textual content message alternate, the place he, the suspect’s particularly said he had the chance to take out Charlie Kirk and he would do this. When requested why, he mentioned some hatred can’t be negotiated with.”
Patel informed Hannity seized a number of gadgets from the suspect’s residence and his ” romantic accomplice.”
Regulation enforcement officers have additionally found proof that Robinson was monitoring Kirk’s occasions and public appearances via public info on the web, legislation enforcement sources conversant in the investigation informed ABC Information.
Officers additionally informed ABC Information they’ve gathered proof displaying Robinson had gained a familiarity with the Utah Valley College campus, together with taking a look at maps of the campus within the days earlier than the assault.
Robinson was arrested final week for felony discharge of a firearm, aggravated homicide and obstruction of justice, based on possible trigger paperwork, and was booked into the Utah County Jail. He might additionally face federal expenses, sources mentioned, although it is unclear what these can be.
Utah’s Division of Public Security and a supply within the state’s lawyer’s workplace mentioned they anticipate expenses towards Robinson will likely be filed by Tuesday.
Investigators proceed to evaluate proof, together with taking a look at digital gadgets the suspect could have had entry to, as federal expenses may very well be introduced within the coming days, legislation enforcement officers informed ABC Information.
A motive has not been revealed by officers, regardless of Vice President JD Vance saying “left-wing extremism” is “a part of the rationale” Kirk was killed.
Robinson was apprehended after his father acknowledged him in images launched by authorities, Cox mentioned on Friday. His father informed Robinson to show himself in, with the 22-year-old initially saying no, however later altering his thoughts, officers mentioned.
Simply earlier than 10 p.m. on Thursday, Robinson, his father and an in depth pal who beforehand labored in legislation enforcement — who can be a youth volunteer with a neighborhood Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — drove collectively from Washington, Utah, to the Washington County Sheriff’s Workplace in Hurricane, based on Sgt. Lance Alfred, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s workplace.
Throughout the drive, the household pal known as the non-public cellphone of the Washington County Sheriff’s Workplace patrol division chief to report the suspect was about to show himself in, Alfred informed ABC Information.
When Robinson arrived on the sheriff’s workplace, he was taken right into a constructing marked “Licensed Personnel Solely,” with personnel from the sheriff’s workplace notifying the Salt Lake Metropolis FBI workplace and different native legislation enforcement officers of the suspect’s arrival, Alfred mentioned.
Individuals mourn Turning Level USA Founder Charlie Kirk at a memorial arrange exterior of the Turning Level USA headquarters on September 12, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Charly Triballeau/AFP through Getty Photos
Robinson was saved within the again places of work of the sheriff’s workplace and turned over to the FBI and different legislation enforcement upon their arrival, which was simply earlier than 6 a.m. on Friday.
Cox thanked Robinson’s household final week, saying, they “did the fitting factor.”
Investigators additionally interviewed a member of the family of Robinson who mentioned the suspect had “turn out to be extra political lately,” Cox mentioned.
In a current incident the member of the family detailed to investigators, Robinson got here to dinner and in a dialog with one other member of the family he talked about Kirk was coming to Utah Valley College. They talked about why they did not like him and his viewpoints.
President Donald Trump, who introduced Friday on “Fox & Mates” that the suspected shooter was in custody, mentioned Robinson ought to get the demise penalty.
“In Utah, you might have demise penalty, and a great governor there, I’ve gotten to know him,” Trump mentioned of Cox. “The governor is intent on the demise penalty on this case and he must be.”
In a press briefing from the Oval Workplace Monday night, Trump mentioned it appeared Robinson grew to become radicalized on the web.
“One thing occurred to him over a reasonably quick time frame. It seems to be like he was radicalized over the web, and it is radicalized on the left. He is a left,” Trump claimed.
Earlier than the arrest of the alleged shooter, officers mentioned that they had obtained “good” video footage of the person and have been capable of observe the actions of the suspect.
On the day of the taking pictures at roughly 11:52 a.m., the suspect arrived on the Orem campus after which proceeded to journey via the stairwells as much as the roof of the constructing close to the place the out of doors occasion was happening, earlier than the suspect fired down at Kirk, Utah Division of Public Security Commissioner Beau Mason mentioned final week.
Kirk was hit by a single shot at roughly 12:20 p.m. and brought to a hospital, the place he was pronounced lifeless, authorities mentioned.
After the taking pictures, the suspect traveled to the opposite aspect of the constructing, jumped off and fled off-campus right into a neighborhood, Mason mentioned.
On Friday, Erika Kirk, the conservative commentator’s spouse, mentioned “nobody will ever neglect my husband’s identify.”
“You haven’t any thought the fireplace that you’ve got ignited inside this spouse, the cries of this widow will echo all over the world like a battle cry,” Erika Kirk mentioned on Friday in her first public message since her husband’s demise.
ABC Information’ Pierre Thomas, Luke Barr and Mike Levine contributed to this report.
