The individual accused of assassinating prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in Utah had explicitly stated his intention to kill Kirk in a text message sent prior to the shooting. This critical information was disclosed by FBI Director Kash Patel on Monday.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” Patel revealed that investigators believe Tyler Robinson, the suspect, also composed a physical note where he declared his “opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk” and his plan to act on it. Although this note was reportedly destroyed, the FBI has successfully gathered forensic evidence confirming its existence and contents through extensive interviews.
Patel did not specify who received the text message or if anyone saw the written note before the attack.
As of now, a definitive motive remains elusive. Law enforcement officials believe Robinson acted alone in shooting Kirk but are actively investigating whether any other individuals played a role in planning the killing.
Adding to the timeline, the Washington Post reported on Monday that Robinson sent a message to friends via the online platform Discord, seemingly confessing to the crime on Thursday night, just hours before his arrest. The message reportedly read, “It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this.”
Kirk, a significant ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump and co-founder of the influential conservative student group Turning Point USA, was tragically killed by a single rifle shot last Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, located approximately 40 miles (65 km) south of Salt Lake City.
Suspect to Appear via Video for Court Hearing
Robinson, 22, is anticipated to be formally charged on Tuesday, coinciding with his initial court appearance via video from his jail cell.
Patel informed Fox News that DNA matching Robinson’s was discovered on a towel wrapped around what is believed to be the murder weapon, a rifle. Additionally, his DNA was found on a screwdriver located on the rooftop, which investigators identified as the shooter’s vantage point.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated on Sunday that Robinson has not cooperated with authorities. However, investigators are conducting interviews with his friends and family in an effort to uncover the motive behind the shooting.
The killing has sent shockwaves across the nation, already grappling with an increase in political violence fueled by profound polarization between the political left and right.
While both political factions have universally condemned Kirk’s murder as an indefensible act of political violence, partisan differences have emerged in how this message is framed.
Some Republicans, including former President Trump, have attributed Kirk’s murder to liberal groups, despite a lack of concrete evidence. Conversely, Democrats have pointed out that left-wing figures have also been targets of political violence in recent years.
The left and right also hold differing views on Kirk’s legacy and how he should be remembered.
Kirk’s Legacy: A Divisive Figure
Kirk’s supporters remember him as an influential and charismatic leader who successfully mobilized support for Trump among younger voters. The former Republican president honored Kirk by ordering flags flown at half-staff on public buildings.
However, civil rights advocates and liberals have criticized Kirk as a divisive figure. They point to his embrace of Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of a stolen 2020 election and rhetoric that marginalized Black individuals, women, the LGBTQ+ community, Muslims, and immigrants.
On Monday, during an appearance on Kirk’s podcast, Vice President JD Vance attributed Kirk’s killing partly to the “incredibly destructive movement of left-wing extremism.”
Governor Cox, speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, noted that while Robinson was raised in a religious Mormon household in a deeply conservative part of the state, “his ideology was very different than his family,” though he did not provide specifics.
State records indicate that Robinson registered to vote without a party affiliation and did not participate in the 2024 presidential election. Nevertheless, a relative informed police that Robinson had become more politically engaged and had expressed a dislike for Kirk in a recent conversation.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, alongside three other senior members of the House Republican leadership, hosted a brief vigil for Kirk on Monday. Dozens of lawmakers, friends, and supporters attended the event in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol.
In Utah, at the site of Kirk’s assassination, numerous mourners have created makeshift memorials in recent days. They have left flowers and handwritten notes, and inscribed messages, many featuring Bible verses, in chalk on campus sidewalks.
Dally Bronson, 22, a sheriff’s dispatcher from a neighboring county who was on duty when Kirk was shot, expressed her conflicting emotions as a devout Christian regarding the pursuit of justice. An admirer of Kirk, Bronson shared that she has been praying for both him and his accused killer.
“By all accounts (Robinson) was a good kid until recently, when something went terribly wrong,” she said, tearfully. “Kirk’s killing isn’t about one political side or the other – it’s about good and evil. The shooter encountered a darkness online; he went into some black hole on the internet, and it’s something people our age fall into.”