President Donald Trump confirmed early Friday the arrest of a suspect in the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The FBI identified the alleged shooter as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a Utah resident. Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, where he was engaging in a public debate as part of his “American Comeback Tour.”
According to Daily Mail, Robinson allegedly confessed to his father, Matt Robinson, a 27-year veteran of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. His father then contacted authorities and ensured his son was safely taken into custody. Robinson’s mother, Amber, works in disability services, and Tyler was a scholarship student at Utah State University. The family reportedly lives in a $600,000 home in Washington, Utah—about 260 miles from the crime scene.
Robinson was arrested around 11 p.m. Thursday night in southern Utah. Authorities stated he could face the death penalty if convicted. Surveillance footage indicated the shot was fired from an elevated position approximately 200 yards away from the tent where Kirk, 31, was seated.
President Trump, speaking on Fox & Friends, said, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and expressed hope the suspect would receive the death penalty. He called Kirk “the finest person” and mourned his death as a “dark moment for America.”
Kirk leaves behind his wife, former Miss Arizona Erika Frantzve, and their two children. His death has shocked the conservative community and prompted tributes from across the political spectrum.
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