Key suspect arrested after 33-hour manhunt
The FBI says DNA evidence has tied 22-year-old Tyler Robinson to the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, a high-profile conservative figure and founder of Turning Point USA.
Kirk was shot last Wednesday while speaking at a university event in Utah. Robinson was arrested Thursday after a 33-hour manhunt and is expected to be formally charged later this week.
Forensic evidence supports the case
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Monday that forensic testing matched Robinson’s DNA to a towel wrapped around the sniper rifle and a screwdriver found at the scene.
“The DNA hits… are positively processed for the suspect in custody,” Patel said in an interview on Fox News.
Investigators find note suggesting intent
Authorities also say Robinson wrote a note before the crime that read:
“I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.”
Though the original note was destroyed, forensic teams recovered traces of it at Robinson’s family home, Patel said.
Kirk’s conservative influence
Kirk, 31, was known for his viral conservative content and live debates at college campuses. He was a staunch critic of the transgender rights movement and a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump.
Trump is scheduled to attend a memorial service for Kirk on Sunday in Arizona. Vice President JD Vance guest-hosted Kirk’s podcast on Monday.
What we know about the suspect
Robinson, described as a high-achieving student raised in a Republican Mormon household, reportedly had a transgender roommate and had begun adopting left-wing views, according to Utah Governor Spencer Cox.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Robinson showed signs of radicalization and political extremism in the months leading up to the shooting.
FBI faces scrutiny over communication
Director Patel has faced backlash for prematurely announcing a suspect’s arrest shortly after the shooting, only to later walk it back when that individual was released.
“Could I have worded it a little better in the heat of the moment? Sure,” Patel said. “But do I regret putting it out? Absolutely not.”
Patel is expected to testify before Congress on Tuesday to address concerns about how the case was handled.
