Charlie Kirk Assassin Threatened Suicide Before Father Turned Him In
Accused assassin Tyler Robinson reportedly threatened to take his own life rather than surrender to police after his father confronted him about the murder of conservative leader Charlie Kirk, according to law enforcement sources.
Robinson’s father, Matt Robinson, recognized his 22-year-old son from surveillance photos released by authorities on Thursday. When the young man returned home, his father directly asked if he was the gunman. Robinson confessed to the killing at Utah Valley University but initially refused to surrender, telling his father he would rather commit suicide than face justice.
His father then persuaded him to meet with their youth minister, who also works with the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force. The minister immediately contacted a federal deputy, and Robinson was taken into custody by the FBI Thursday evening.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox praised the family’s courage. “I want to thank the family members of Tyler Robinson who did the right thing in this case and were able to bring him into law enforcement,” Cox said.
Robinson, a former Utah Valley student, has been charged with aggravated murder. Authorities believe he acted alone.
Investigators revealed that Robinson’s roommate provided a series of incriminating Discord messages sent from an account named “Tyler.” In the messages, Robinson described retrieving a rifle, stashing it in a towel, and later changing clothes after the assassination. A bolt-action rifle with a scope was recovered near the scene, consistent with the messages.
Law enforcement officials also confirmed Robinson had expressed hatred toward Kirk in the days leading up to the attack, calling the conservative commentator “full of hate.”
Kirk, 31, a husband and father of two, was assassinated during a campus Q&A session in Orem, Utah. His death has been described by President Donald Trump as a “political act of terror” and has shaken conservatives across the country.
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