Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, reportedly threatened to take his own life rather than surrender to authorities, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
Robinson was identified by his father after the FBI released surveillance images of the suspected shooter on Thursday. Upon recognizing his son, the father confronted Robinson when he returned home.
During the confrontation, Robinson allegedly confessed to the shooting but initially refused to turn himself in, saying he would rather die than face arrest.
The father then contacted a youth minister—who also serves with the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force—hoping to de-escalate the situation. The minister reached out to federal authorities, and Robinson was taken into custody by the FBI later that evening
Robinson, a former student at Utah Valley University, is now facing charges of aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm. Officials believe he acted alone in the September 10 shooting, which occurred during Kirk’s appearance at the university as part of his “American Comeback Tour”.
Investigators recovered disturbing messages from Robinson’s Discord account, including instructions to a roommate about retrieving a rifle hidden in a towel near a wooded area on campus. Another message indicated that Robinson changed clothes after the shooting.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed that Robinson had become increasingly political in recent years and had expressed hostility toward Kirk, whom he reportedly described as “full of hate”.
The FBI continues to investigate the motive behind the attack, which has been described by state officials as a politically charged assassination. Kirk, 31, was a prominent figure in conservative circles and the founder of Turning Point USA.
