OREM, Utah — Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced the arrest of a 22-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Friday press conference, saying “we got him.” The suspect was identified as Tyler Robinson and was taken into custody at 10 p.m. Thursday in St. George, Utah, about 280 miles south of Orem, after a family member contacted authorities. President ...

On the FBI Salt Lake City facebook page, the FBI is circulating security camera images and'' asking for the public's help in identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.''.

FBI Salt Lake City/ZUMA Press Wire/TNS

OREM, Utah — Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced the arrest of a 22-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Friday press conference, saying “we got him.”

The suspect was identified as Tyler Robinson and was taken into custody at 10 p.m. Thursday in St. George, Utah, about 280 miles south of Orem, after a family member contacted authorities.

President Trump praised local and state authorities for their work tracking down the suspect. After Kirk was killed Wednesday after being struck in the neck with one single shot, officials shared video Thursday of a man on the rooftop of a Utah Valley University building.

“Everybody did a great job, you know,” the President said. “You start off with absolutely nothing, and we started off with a cliff that made him look like an ant, that was almost useless. We just saw there was somebody up there. And so much work has been done over the last two and a half days.”

Trump said he hoped the suspect would be found guilty and get the death penalty.

“Charlie Kirk, he was the finest person,” Trump said. “He didn’t deserve this.”

News that the suspect had been captured came the morning after Beau Mason, the head of Utah’s Department Public Safety, said in a TV interview Thursday night on that authorities “have no idea” who the shooter is or if he is still in Utah.

“We’re exploring leads for individuals out of state and individuals that live close by,” Mason said on MSNBC. We literally have persons of interest, tips coming in on the tip line that are spanning far, far and wide.”

On Thursday night, authorities pleaded for the public’s help in identifying the gunman and released new video of a suspect in dark clothing lying face-down on the corner of a roof at Utah Valley University. He then ran across the roof and jumped off of it, using his hands to lower himself over the edge.

News that the suspect had been captured came the morning after Beau Mason, the head of Utah’s Department Public Safety, said in a TV interview Thursday night on that authorities “have no idea” who the shooter is or if he is still in Utah.

“We’re exploring leads for individuals out of state and individuals that live close by,” Mason said on MSNBC. We literally have persons of interest, tips coming in on the tip line that are spanning far, far and wide.”

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Hundreds fill a city park Thursday evening in Orem, Utah, in a tribute to Charlie Kirk.

Grace Toohey/The Los Angeles Times/TNS

On Thursday night, authorities pleaded for the public’s help in identifying the gunman and released new video of a suspect in dark clothing lying face-down on the corner of a roof at Utah Valley University. He then ran across the roof and jumped off of it, using his hands to lower himself over the edge.

Mason said Thursday that investigators were chasing several leads after the suspect left palm impressions and smudges on the roof that they hoped would allow them to collect DNA. He also left a shoe imprint officials believe is from a Converse tennis shoe.

Law enforcement also circulated photos of the suspect — who wore blue jeans, a baseball cap, gray Converse shoes and a long-sleeved black T-shirt that appeared to show an American flag and an eagle. Anyone with information is encouraged to come forward.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Thursday night they hoped the images and video would get as much attention as possible to help investigators capture “this evil human being.”

“We are going to catch this person,” Cox said, noting that he had worked with attorneys to get affidavits ready “so that we can pursue the death penalty in this case.”

With pressure building on authorities, the F.B.I. director, Kash Patel, took the unusual step Thursday of flying to Utah. But he did not speak at the news conference.

More than 7,000 tips have been submitted to the FBI, according to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.

The suspected murder weapon, a high-powered bolt-action rifle, was recovered in a wooded area near a parking lot, said Robert Bohls, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City office. Mason said the suspect was seen running to that area after getting down from the roof.

At Friday’s press conference, Cox said that ammunition recovered with the rifle was engraved with such messages as “Hey Fascist! Catch!,” “Bella Ciao,” and “If you read this, you are gay.”

Kirk was a fervant conservative and enormously influential figure in American politics, with a combined 25.6 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.

A provocative figure, Kirk was known for challenging left-wing orthodoxies on college campuses and clung strongly to his Christian faith, arguing that there should be no division between church and state in America.

Kirk’s assassination sparked fierce backlash from conservative leaders, including President Trump, who blamed the rhetoric of the “radical left” for his death. On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance traveled from Utah to Phoenix aboard Air Force Two with Kirk’s family to bring the activist’s casket home.

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A general view of a wreath laid by mourners outside the US Embassy in Pretoria on Sept. 11, 2025, following the fatal shooting of US youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk while speaking during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

On Thursday evening, hundreds gathered in a park in Orem, Utah, to remember and honor Kirk.

The multi-generational crowd held American flags, pushed children in strollers and donned “Make America Great Again” hats while they prayed and sang together.

“Come together in light,” Mayor David Young said to the crowd. “Violence has no place here.”

The mourners sang along to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” and participated in a group prayer.

“This is the healing that we needed,” said Klea Harris, whose children helped organize the event.

More than a hundred people lined up with flowers, candles and flags, waiting for their turn to place them before a memorial that centered on a larger-than-life photo of Kirk.

“It’s important that we don’t turn on each other in this moment,” said Jason Preston, a conservative podcast host. He received rousing applause when he told the crowd: “This is not a battle of right versus left, this is a battle of good versus evil.”

Earlier in the day, young conservatives gathered on campus, hanging red banners in honor of Kirk’s Republican ideology and carrying posters with phrases such as “We are not afraid” and “Charlie Kirk, American hero.”

“I think this kind of woke a sleeping giant,” said UVU student Jillian Green, 20. “People are outraged and very upset that he [was killed] when he was advocating for so many of us.”

Koby Herrera, a fellow student at the university, also felt that the death could mark a shift in political history, noting that it could further raise Kirk’s influence.

“He had a voice, and I feel like his voice is bigger now that he’s in the grave,” said Herrera, 22.

Kirk held huge sway over young Republicans, and key members of the Trump administration credited him with helping them secure the GOP’s 2024 electoral victory.