How was Tyler Robinson caught? Charlie Kirk shooter, 22, in custody after manhunt
Charlie Kirk shooter Tyler Robinson reportedly confessed to his father, who then drove him to a police station in St. George, Utah.
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident, has been identified as the suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to five senior law enforcement officials who spoke to NBC News.
Charlie Kirk, 31, the co-founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent Trump ally, was killed on Wednesday during a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Authorities believe Robinson fired a single shot from a high-powered rifle, striking Kirk in the neck from an elevated position roughly 200 yards away as he spoke to a crowd.
The shooting triggered a massive manhunt. The FBI released surveillance photos and video of a person of interest, and a discarded rifle believed to be the murder weapon was later recovered in a wooded area nearby.
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How was Tyler Robinson caught?
According to the Associated Press, Tyler Robinson was identified after his father recognized him in images released by authorities. Although Robinson initially refused to turn himself in, he later changed his mind. His father sought help from a youth pastor, who ultimately assisted in convincing Robinson to surrender. Robinson was taken into custody in St. George, Utah, on Friday.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Robinson was apprehended 33 hours after the shooting. He credited the arrest to a swift and coordinated public outreach campaign, which generated more than 11,000 leads in just two days.
"The arrest is a testament to the dedication of good law enforcement and the strength of our partnerships,” he said on Friday.
A family member told investigators that Robinson had become increasingly political in recent years. They recalled a dinner shortly before the shooting during which Robinson informed them about Charlie Kirk’s scheduled appearance at Utah Valley University. He told them that he believed Kirk was “full of hate and spreading hate."
