Salt Lake City, Utah – Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed Thursday that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, revealing that the suspect’s own family played a critical role in bringing him to justice. “We got him,” Governor Cox declared at a press conference. “Thanks to the courage of his family, particularly a relative who stepped forward, we were able to take him into custody swiftly. They did the right thing.”
Authorities said Robinson, a resident of southwest Utah and not affiliated with Utah Valley University, confessed to his father prior to surrendering. A family member, alongside a friend, assisted law enforcement in facilitating his peaceful handover.
Governor Cox shared that Robinson had shown increasing political radicalization, citing concerns raised by relatives in recent years. “A family member reported that he had become more extreme in his views and openly expressed a dislike for Kirk,” Cox noted.
Investigators recovered spent bullet casings at the scene of the shooting, one of which bore the taunting inscription: “Hey fascist! Catch!” — a chilling detail that officials say may point to ideological motives.
A mugshot of Robinson has been released, and officials have launched a broader investigation into his background and digital footprint.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the rapid progress of the investigation, noting that Robinson was located and detained within 33 hours of the incident. “This was historic,” Patel stated. “The speed and coordination between federal, state, and local agencies—and the bravery of the family—made this possible.”
Law enforcement has published a detailed timeline of the case, tracing the investigation from the moment of Kirk’s assassination during a campus event at Utah Valley University to Robinson’s arrest just over a day later.
Governor Cox emphasized that, despite the grief surrounding the tragedy, the cooperation between citizens and authorities serves as a powerful reminder of what is possible when communities unite for justice. “This family chose accountability over silence,” Cox concluded. “And that choice made all the difference.”
