All we know about the suspect in Charlie Kirk's shooting - and how he was caught

The suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk is in police custody after a two-day manhunt.

The right-wing influencer, 31, was fatally shot on Wednesday afternoon while speaking at an event on Utah Valley University campus in Orem.

Police began searching for the gunman on the campus, before eventually extending the search to nearby neighbourhoods.

The suspect has been named as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old man from Utah, and the governor's office has released a photo of him in custody.

Here's what we know about the suspect so far:

How was the suspect caught?

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said a member of Robinson's family reached out to a friend, who then contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office with information that Robinson "had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident".

NBC news reports that the family member is his father - and that the father then went to a church minister he knew, who contacted a local sheriff.

Donald Trump told Fox News "the father convinced the son," to hand himself in, adding that they then "drove into the police headquarters, and he's there now".

Mr Cox said the family member told the FBI that Robinson "had become more political in recent years" and that, at a dinner prior to the shooting, he had mentioned Mr Kirk's upcoming visit to Utah Valley University.

Utah's governor said they had "talked about why they didn't like him and the viewpoints that he had" and that "the family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate".

He went on to say that messages between Tyler Robinson and his roommate revealed details about the alleged plot.

"The content of these messages included messages affiliated with the contact 'Tyler' stating a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush, messages related to visually watching the area where a rifle was left, and a message referring to having left the rifle wrapped in a towel," he said.

Latest updates as suspect named

Mr Cox added that there was no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved, but that the investigation was ongoing.

He said the suspect was taken into custody in Washington County, in southern Utah, around a three to four hour drive from Orem, where his family lived.

Pictures and footage released by the FBI

Mr Cox also said that the suspect changed clothes on campus.

He said footage "first spotted" him with one outfit on, which he allegedly changed while on the roof of a building.

Mr Cox said he then "changed back into that clothing at some point" - meaning the first outfit.

All this meant, the governor said, that when he was arrested, the suspect was wearing the same clothes he had on before the shooting.

Before news of his capture came in, the FBI had released images of a "person of interest" in the shooting, later revealed to be Robinson, showing him wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a backpack.

They also released video footage of him fleeing after the incident, where he could be seen walking on the roof of the building from where the fatal shot was fired.

He was then seen climbing down and heading toward a wooded area, where police say he abandoned his rifle.

The first description of the suspect came from a police officer on her radio shortly after the shooting, who said he was "wearing jeans, black shirt, black mask, long rifle".

Beau Mason, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, later said he "appears to be of college age" and that he "blended in well with a college institution".

What else do we know about Robinson?

Sky News have now verified what appear to be school records posted in 2020 by his mother which show a 4.0 average - a very high score, akin to straight As in the UK.

"This boy is a genius," she added.

NBC reports that he is a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship programme at Dixie Technical College in St George, Utah.

A spokesperson for Utah Valley University said he attended the university for one semester in 2021.

A family neighbour, Kristin Schwiermann, describes Robinson as "smart," "quiet," and said he "never caused any problems."

Robinson expected to be charged with aggravated murder

The suspect is expected to be charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The offences are all state charges.

Mr Cox said that under Utah law, they have three days to file charging documents, and that it should come "early next week."

Utah officials previously said they were going to seek the death penalty for Charlie Kirk's suspected gunman.

What weapon did the gunman use?

The weapon was found after the shooting in a wooded area where the gunman had fled, according to FBI agent Robert Bohls.

He described the gun as a "high-powered bolt action rifle".

Read more:
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Investigators collected a footwear impression, a palm print, and forearm imprints for analysis.

Firearms consultant David Dyson told Sky News that, based on the range from where they are believed to have fired, the gunman would likely need to be a somewhat skilled target shooter.

But he suggested that while the shot may be difficult for anyone without experience, it's "not a great range" for someone with practice.

(c) Sky News 2025: All we know about the suspect in Charlie Kirk's shooting - and how he was caught