FBI Director Kash Patel testified this week that significantly more than 20 individuals are under investigation in connection with online discussions about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley questioned Patel about reports of a Discord chat where the suspect, Tyler Robinson, allegedly admitted to the killing. Patel confirmed that several people have been questioned and many others are still being investigated.
The Discord conversation in question reportedly included around 30 users. According to a Washington Post report, Robinson confessed in the chat hours after the incident, stating he was responsible for the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University. He also informed the group that he intended to surrender. Despite this, Discord representatives stated they had found no evidence that Robinson had used the platform to plan or promote violence.
Robinson, 22, has been charged with multiple offenses including aggravated murder and obstruction of justice. Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray announced that his office will seek the death penalty. Utah remains one of the few states that still permits execution by firing squad.
Investigators are also reviewing whether any online communities or users, including those on Discord, Steam, and other platforms, may have had prior knowledge of the incident. Some social media accounts linked to these groups were deleted shortly after the shooting. Authorities are working to determine whether ideological factors played a role in the motive.
Robinson’s mother reportedly told investigators that her son had undergone political shifts over the past year. Officials confirmed that he sent messages after the shooting expressing his frustration with Kirk’s views. These details are part of the ongoing investigation into the motivations behind the attack.
Robinson appeared in court via video, remaining expressionless as charges were read. The FBI credits public tips and surveillance footage with helping to identify and locate the suspect.
