Timeline detailing events leading up to arrest of Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer
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- A mugshot of Tyler Robinson, the man suspected of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, is shown.
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- A mugshot of Tyler Robinson, the man suspected of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, is shown.
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- Utah Governor Spencer Cox and FBI Director Kash Patel, left, walk with a group of local and national law enforcement personnel into a press conference at Utah Valley University on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
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- A sign reading “Fly High Charlie Kirk! We love you. R.I.P.” is seen hanging on a fence with flowers across the street from the Utah Valley University campus in Orem on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
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- SWAT teams respond to a shooting at Utah Valley University in Orem where conservative speaker Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.
The arrest of a Southern Utah man suspected of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University less than 48 hours after the act is being called “historic” by federal law enforcement officials.
22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Washington, near St. George, was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of shooting Kirk during a speaking engagement Wednesday on the campus of UVU, Utah leaders and federal officials announced in a press conference.
FBI Director Kash Patel noted the rapid progression of developments beginning early Wednesday afternoon after Kirk was shot up until Robinson was taken into custody — a manhunt totaling 33 hours.
“Your state and local partners, your sheriffs, your DPS community have been unbelievably impressive in the hardest of times,” he said. “A case like this cannot be solved, cannot be brought without partnering with your state and local authorities.”
Below is a brief timeline of events from the moments leading to and following the shooting on Wednesday:
Wednesday
8:29 a.m.: According to a probable cause affidavit, the suspected gunman arrived on the campus of Utah Valley University in a gray Dodge Challenger, wearing a maroon T-shirt, light-colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo and light-colored shoes.
11:50 a.m.: UVU surveillance footage captured the suspected shooter walking across a grassy area around 800 W. north of Campus Drive, according to a probable cause affidavit. Court documents allege that he appeared to be “walking with a stiff right leg and at a relatively slow pace.”
Noon: Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” began in the courtyard area on the UVU campus. Kirk was under a canopy marked “Prove Me Wrong,” where he was taking questions from attendees, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety.
12:17 p.m.: Campus surveillance footage captured the suspect crouching down on the rooftop of the Losee Center building, according to the probable cause affidavit. Court documents stated he was seen laying down in a “prone shooting position” near the edge of the rooftop.
12:23 p.m.: The Utah Department of Public Safety said in a press release that Kirk was struck by a single gunshot while talking with an attendee at the event. A witness told the Daily Herald on Wednesday that panic ensued after the shot rang out as people began to take cover and flee to safety. Kirk was transported to Timpanogos Regional Hospital a short time later.
12:24 p.m.: The suspect was shown on surveillance footage jumping off of the rooftop and running near the parking lot east of the Losee Center, court documents state.
12:39 p.m.: FBI agents arrived on campus and worked with local authorities to quickly secure the scene, according to Patel.
2:40 p.m.: President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social announcing that Kirk had died.
4:30 p.m.: During a press conference with reporters, Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed that a person of interest was in custody. Patel posted on social media, saying that the subject of the shooting was in custody.
During that same briefing, the Utah Department of Public Safety said an initial person of interest that was taken into custody had been released.
5 p.m.: Utah Valley University officials announced campus operations would be suspended until Monday.
6 p.m.: Patel took to social media, announcing that the second person of interest had also been released and their investigation to locate the suspect was ongoing.
Thursday
7:30 a.m.: The Utah DPS and FBI of Salt Lake City announced during a press conference that a rifle they believed was used in the assassination of Kirk had been recovered from a wooden area near campus.
During that briefing, investigators also said they had tracked the movements of the person who they believed to be the shooter. Utah DPS Commissioner Beau Mason said they’d obtained video footage of the individual, noting that he “blended in well with college students.”
10 a.m.: The Utah DPS and the FBI publicly released photos of the suspected shooter and asked for the public’s help in identifying him and to come forth with any information that may lead to an arrest.
10:45 a.m.: The FBI announced on X that a reward of up to $100,000 was being offered for information leading to the suspected shooter’s arrest.
2:30 p.m.: Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance land on Air Force Two at the Utah National Guard’s Roland R. Wright Air Base in Salt Lake City to meet with the Kirk family and local leaders and to escort his remains back to Arizona, KSL.com reported.
4:30 p.m.: The vice president and second lady departed Utah with Kirk’s casket on board, according to KSL.com.
7:30 p.m.: A press conference is held with Cox, Patel, the Utah DPS and local Utah County authorities where new video was revealed showing the suspected shooter’s movements throughout campus.
Cox said during the briefing that a tip line created to gather public information related to the shooting had amassed more than 7,000 tips and that authorities had conducted more than 200 witness interviews.
10 p.m.: According to Patel, the suspect had been taken into custody in Washington County, though information at that time had not been publicly revealed.
Friday
6 a.m.: In an interview on the Fox News Channel, Trump announced that a suspect had been captured.
7:30 a.m.: At a press briefing, Cox confirmed the suspected shooter, identified as Robinson, was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail.
According to a probable cause statement, a family friend of Robinson’s contacted authorities in Washington County with information from one of his family members that Robinson had either confessed to them or implied committing the alleged act.
Cox thanked local and national law enforcement for their efforts in the case and to the public for its support.
“This is a very sad day for our country, a terrible day for the state of Utah, but I’m grateful that at this moment we have an opportunity to bring closure to this very dark chapter in our nation’s history,” he said.
Robinson is in the Utah County Jail and faces several recommended state charges. Those include suspicion of aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, both first-degree felonies, and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, according to court documents. Aggravated murder carries the potential for the death penalty.
The Utah County Attorney’s Office is expected to file formal charges against Robinson on Tuesday, according to a county spokesperson.
The FBI says its investigation is ongoing.
