The suspect involved in the assassination of Charlie Kirk has been identified as Tyler Robinson, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced in a press conference this morning. 

According to law enforcement, Robinson was taken into custody last night around 11 p.m. MST in St. George, Utah, which is around 250 miles from where Kirk was shot. Robinson is 22 years old and is believed by law enforcement to have acted alone. 

Law enforcement also said they found messages Robinson had sent on the Discord app about needing to “retrieve a rifle from a drop point.” 

Cox said that a family member of the suspect contacted a family friend after the shooting occurred. That friend later reached out to the sheriff’s office and revealed the suspect to be Robinson, implying that he confessed to the killing. 

President Donald Trump also appeared on Fox News this morning, saying that he believes it was Robinson’s father who had been in contact with the family friend. 

Cox also said that there were engravings on the unfired cartridges reading, “Hey, fascist! Catch!” and “Bella ciao,” which is a reference to an Italian song sung by anti-fascist groups during World War II. 

There were also other scribblings referencing video game culture, with some messages referencing the game “Helldivers,” which is a game with satirical takes on military propaganda with a goal of spreading democracy. 

Cox had previously stated that prosecutors would pursue the death penalty once the suspect had been caught. In Utah, death by lethal injection or firing squad serves as the capital punishment. 

The Fresno State College Democrats gave a statement to The Collegian regarding the shooting and death of Kirk.

David Mariscal, president of Fresno State College Democrats, presented on behalf of the organization. He condemns political violence and says that it’s a reminder of the dangers of gun violence.

“The Fresno State College Democrats extend our condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Charlie Kirk,” Mariscal said. “We recognize that his passing is deeply felt by members of Turning Point USA, including those here on our campus.”

The statement continues with Mariscal saying his organization stands against political violence.

“We also take this moment to firmly and unequivocally condemn political violence in all its forms,” Mariscal said. “Disagreement is a natural part of civic life, but violence has no place in our democracy.”

Mariscal finished the Fresno State College Democrats’ statement, recognizing the school shooting in Colorado.

“His death comes on a tragic day when children at Evergreen High School in Colorado were also injured,” Mariscal said. “Reminding us of the devastating toll that gun violence continues to take on our country. We remain committed to fostering a campus and a community where dialogue and civic participation can thrive peacefully, without fear of violence.”

Latest on Kirk

The FBI has released images of what they are calling a “person of interest” in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk yesterday morning at Utah Valley University. Authorities are tracking the individual’s movements before and after the shooting through university CCTV footage, according to Beau Mason, Utah’s Public Safety Chief. 

The updated photographs show a male individual walking up a staircase as he makes his way to the rooftop of a building, wearing dark clothing, sunglasses and a baseball cap.

Authorities said a high-powered bolt-action rifle was discovered in a wooded area near campus. Three suspects were detained by authorities, all of whom have since been released. 

FBI Director Kash Patel has walked back a statement he made referring to the supposed capture of “the subject of the horrific shooting” late Wednesday. 

Colorado shooting

Shortly after Kirk was shot in Utah, a student opened fire at Evergreen High School in Colorado, critically injuring two before taking his own life, the New York Times reported. One student is in critical condition and the other has been cleared to be transported to another facility as of late Wednesday night.

The shooter used a revolver in the attack, firing both outside and inside the school. 

The motive behind the attack is under investigation while officers search the shooter’s residence and personal effects. 

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis made a statement regarding the shooting on Wednesday evening. 

“Students should be able to attend school safely and without fear across our nation,” Polis said. “We are all praying for the victims and the entire community.” 

The Collegian will continue to update this story as the news warrants.

FBI agents and police officers continue to investigate the shooting.

The New York Times editorial board published an opinion piece on Wednesday evening, denouncing acts of political violence.

“This editorial board disagreed with Mr. Kirk on many policy questions, and we are unreservedly horrified by his killing,” the board wrote.

The Collegian will provide updates as the news warrants.

A suspect is in custody following the shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.  

CNN reported that six officers were present in the over 3,000-person crowd. Unconfirmed reports show an individual running across the roof of the building where the shot was fired from. 

The FBI has announced a digital tip line for information on its website. 

Utah Valley University Police Chief Jeff Long spoke about the security detail of the event. 

Long said that campus police have had training for events like this. He added that officers in plain clothes were placed throughout the event.

Following Kirk’s death after being shot at Utah Valley University, Fresno State’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter gave a statement to The Collegian regarding the co-founder’s passing.

The chapter’s president, Evan Trevino, and its vice president, Dominic Duran, both read a prepared statement regarding the shooting.

“For too long, there’s been a perpetual cycle of attacks made on conservatives by radical ideologues, and the only thing to follow is a tired repeat of how this behavior would never be allowed if it were the other way around,” Trevino said. “This murder wasn’t one of chance or whim, but rather the result of prolonged excuse rhetoric of hate and vitriol by radical ideologues. Every time someone has called us Nazis or fascists, every post on Yik Yak disparaging campus conservatives, and every ‘threat to democracy’ accusation has led to this moment. Some of you listening or reading may have even taken part in this behavior, but it’s for this reason that our founder, Charlie Kirk, dedicated his life to reviving dialogue between Americans. His death will not be the end of this discussion, but will rather serve as the foundation of why it remains necessary to speak out and exercise our First Amendment right,” Trevino said.

Duran finished the statement.

“Charlie Kirk will be remembered,” Duran said. “He died doing what he loved, not just debating, not just being the voice of young Americans across the nation, but also as a man that spread the love and word of God. He was a man of God, and he is now reunited with him. Charlie Kirk will be remembered as a son, a husband and as a father.”

After the two read the statement, Trevino and Duran denounced the shooting, saying that it doesn’t matter why he was attacked. Trevino added that he does not want to make Kirk’s death about gun violence.

“This happened on a campus, a place that’s supposed to be gun-free regardless,” Trevino said. “I’m not interested in reducing this down to a gun conversation.” 

Duran explained that this situation isn’t just about guns, saying that gun violence is rarely about the gun; instead, it’s about the person using the gun.

“This is human violence,” Duran said. “This is political violence.”

On Truth Social, President Donald Trump wrote that he is calling for all flags to be lowered to half staff until Sunday evening at 6 p.m., something both Trevino and Duran support.

GOP Sen. John Curtis made an announcement condemning political violence.

He said Americans should “reevaluate how we’re talking about issues.”

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that he spoke to President Trump after the shooting.

“…we will bring to justice the individual responsible for this tragedy,” Cox posted on X.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris posted on social media saying she was “deeply disturbed” by the shooting.

“I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence,” Harris said.

Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk has died after being shot in the neck at Utah Valley University on Wednesday morning. 

President Donald Trump confirmed his death on Truth Social at 1:41 p.m.

The suspect was around 200 yards away from Kirk near the university’s Losee Center.

CNN reported that officials advised people to “secure in place” until they can be escorted out by police.

Roads leading in and out of campus are closed.

Before the event, Kirk made a post on X saying, “Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.”

Kirk is in the hospital in critical condition.

According to CNN, the suspect is not in custody, despite what the Utah Valley University spokesperson said earlier.

Police are still investigating, and the university’s campus is closed for the rest of the day.

The CEO of Turning Point USA was at the university as part of the first stop of The American Comeback Tour. Before he was shot, he was speaking about shooters and transgender individuals in response to a student’s question.

On Sept. 2, Kirk and Isabel Brown, a conservative media personality, were keynote speakers at the Tulare-Kings Resources for Life (TKRL) Advancing the Mission event.

Kirk spoke about Christianity and conservatism, while making comparisons about how he believes that abortion is parallel to the Holocaust.

“It’s not just happening in concentration camps, it’s happening in Planned Parenthoods,” Kirk said, as reported in a previous Collegian article.

Kirk and Brown also spoke about their beliefs that women should maintain traditional roles, and don’t need to get a college degree.

Brown herself dropped out of college because she says she did not share the same beliefs as her professors. A professor told her that abortion was a human right, and she could not stand for that.

While Kirk and Brown spoke, protesters assembled outside. The Collegian asked to speak with a few of the individuals, but they declined to comment.

However, on social media, Maria Alvarez-Sidley commented under The Collegian’s post and shared her thoughts.

“This man is vile and disgusting and has an agenda that does not suit women or minorities in any way,” Alvarez-Sidley said.