Utah gunman had engraved anti-fascist messages including ‘Bella Ciao’ on bullet casings
The suspected gunman who assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been identified as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident who was taken into custody after his father turned him in to authorities.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced the arrest at a Friday morning press conference, opening with the declaration: “We got him.” Robinson was arrested around 11pm local time on Thursday night in southern Utah, approximately 260 miles from where Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to multiple outlets that Robinson confessed to a family member, who then contacted a family friend before reaching out to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect’s father, reportedly a member of law enforcement himself, helped secure his son until authorities arrived to make the arrest.
Cox revealed that investigators discovered disturbing messages engraved on bullet casings found with the murder weapon, a Mauser Model 98 bolt-action rifle recovered from a wooded area near the campus. One fired casing bore the inscription “notices bulge OWO what’s this?” whilst unfired casings contained more explicitly political messages.
“Hey fascists! Catch!” was engraved on one casing, accompanied by arrow symbols. Another bore the lyrics “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao” from the famous Italian anti-fascist resistance song. A third unfired casing read “If you read this you are gay lmao”, according to the governor.
The revelations point to political motivations behind the assassination of Kirk, who was struck in the neck by a single bullet whilst speaking to approximately 3,000 students during his “American Comeback Tour” event on Wednesday afternoon. Kirk, 31, was discussing mass shootings when the fatal shot was fired from what authorities believe was a rooftop position roughly 200 yards away.
Robinson’s roommate provided crucial assistance to investigators by sharing Discord messages in which the suspect discussed retrieving a rifle from a drop point, leaving the weapon wrapped in a towel in bushes, and references to engraved bullets and a scope. Messages from an account named “Tyler” also indicated he had changed outfits after the shooting.
The suspect attended Utah State University for just one semester in 2021 on a scholarship, the university confirmed. He was not enrolled at Utah Valley University where the shooting occurred. Robinson lived in a £470,000 six-bedroom home in Washington, Utah, with his family.
Governor Cox said family members told investigators that Robinson had “become more political” in recent years and had recently expressed his dislike for Kirk to his family, describing the conservative commentator as “full of hate”. Robinson reportedly argued with family members about Kirk at the dinner table and objected to his presence on Utah campus.
President Donald Trump announced the arrest during an appearance on Fox News Friday morning, stating that “someone very close” to the suspect had turned him in. “I think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody. Everyone did a great job,” Trump said.
The president, who credited Kirk with helping mobilise young voters in his re-election campaign, expressed hope that Robinson would face the death penalty if convicted. “In Utah, they have the death penalty, and you have a very good governor there,” Trump said. “The governor is very intent on the death penalty in this case.”
FBI Director Kash Patel praised the swift law enforcement response, noting that over 11,000 leads and tips had poured in from the public. “In 33 hours, we have made historic progress for Charlie,” Patel said at the press conference. “The arrest is a testament to good law enforcement being great.”
The arrest came after an intense manhunt that saw authorities release surveillance footage showing a figure matching Robinson’s description leaping from a building rooftop and sprinting into a nearby neighbourhood immediately after the shooting. Officials had offered a £78,000 reward for information leading to the gunman’s capture.
Social media profiles belonging to Robinson’s family paint a picture of a seemingly normal young man who enjoyed family holidays and whose mother celebrated her “genius” son getting into university. Ironically, one image from 2017 shows Robinson wearing a Donald Trump costume for Halloween. Other childhood photos show him posing with firearms, including an M2 Browning .50 calibre machine gun.
Utah voting records show Robinson’s voter status as “inactive”, meaning he had not voted in the last two general elections. His party affiliation was listed as “unaffiliated”.
Governor Cox described the killing as a “political assassination” and warned it represented a watershed moment for America. “This is certainly about the tragic death, assassination, political assassination of Charlie Kirk, but it is also much bigger than an attack on an individual,” he said. “It is an attack on all of us, an attack on the American experiment, it is an attack on our ideals.”
Vice President JD Vance flew Kirk’s body back to Arizona on Air Force Two on Thursday evening, describing the activist as someone who “didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.
Robinson was booked into Utah County jail and is expected to face formal charges early next week. Authorities believe he acted alone, with Cox confirming there is no information that would lead to additional arrests.
Kirk leaves behind his wife Erika and two young children, aged one and three. His organisation, Turning Point USA, which he founded aged just 18, has become one of the most influential conservative youth movements in America, boasting over 800 college chapters and millions of online followers.
The assassination represents the latest in a string of political violence incidents that have roiled America, including two assassination attempts against Trump last year and the killing of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband in June.
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