Charlie Kerk’s killer was arrested by the suspect after recognizing the father

A 22 -year -old young man from Utah was arrested for the killing of right -wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while he was on stage at a university event earlier this week.

Tyler Robinson was held late on Thursday, after a 33 -hour chase after he helped his father to persuade him to surrender to the police.

He was announced for the first time by US President Donald Trump, who called the suspect to face the death penalty.

Kirk, who was shot during the discussion with students on Wednesday, was shocked by the Americans and placed in the country’s sharp partisan divisions.

Investigators said at a press conference on Friday that the suspect confessed to his father and said that he would prefer to take his life more than surrender. Then the father called a young man who is a family friend.

The police said that both men tried to calm the suspect. The priest, who is also working as a security officer in the court, was later called on the US guards, who held the suspect at approximately 22:00 local time on Thursday.

The governor of Utah Spencer Cox said that the monitoring photos showed that Robinson had reached the campus of the University of Utah Valley about four hours before a shot condoned, killing Kirk and sending students running for coverage.

Cox told reporters that when Mr. Robinson was held, he was wearing clothes similar to what was seen on the closed TV cameras at the shooting site.

The governor added that the investigators had an interview with a family member, who said that the suspect has become more political in recent years.

Cox said that a family member had talked about a recent incident when Mr. Robinson stated that Kirk was coming to Utah and that he was “full of hatred and spread hatred.”

Cox said that the investigators also spoke to a colleague in the suspect’s room, who showed them exchange of messages with an account called “Tyler” on Discord, the messaging application.

The messages indicate the need to recover a rifle of “dropping point” and the firearm that is left in a shrub, wrapped in a towel.

The FBI said on Thursday that they had found the suspected weapon – the imported mauser rifle.

Cox told reporters that engraved inscriptions were found on covers that were recovered with the gun, which had a domain on top of it.

The inscriptions included, “Fascism! Hunting!” And “Bella Siau, Bella Siao”.

“Bella Siao” means “beautiful goodbye” in Italian. It is also the title of a song dedicated to the Italian resistance that fought against the occupied Nazi forces.

Utah state governor said he was not aware of any other possible arrests in the investigation.

Prosecutors in the state said they intend to provide official charges against Mr. Robinson on Tuesday.

He is accused of strict killing, obstruction of justice, and a firearm felony, according to the PBC prison prisoner.

Students at the University of Utah Valley BBC were told that they were relieved to hear them from arrest.

The campus has been closed since the shooting on Wednesday afternoon – as the yellow tape and police vehicles are prevented from school.

“He was arrested in Washington Province, the place where I meet,” said McKinley Chenell, a first -year student. “I feel deep shy.”

“I am surely comfortable,” added McKinnley Anthony’s cousin. “I am now keen to hear his motives and why this happened.”

The BBC’s general records indicate that Mr. Robinson has registered as a non -proportional – or non -partisan vice – in Utah in the past. Matthew Karl Robinson, the father of the suspect, and Amber Dennis Robinson, the mother of the suspect, are registered republics, according to state records.

Voting records indicate that he did not vote in the last presidential elections, according to CBS News, the American PBC partner. It was not old enough to vote in 2020.

The suspect lives in St. George, Utah, near the Zion National Park, about 250 miles (400 km) southwest of the campus, where Kirk was shot.

He is a third -year student in an electrical training program at the Dicksie Technical College in southwestern Utah, where he lived.

Social media accounts indicate that Mr. Robinson’s father runs kitchen countertops and cabinet installation work, while his mother is a social worker. The family is the Mormon and is active in the local church.