“Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” an attendee asked.
“Counting or not counting gang violence?” answered Charlie Kirk.
These were Kirk’s last documented words, according to The Independent, as on Sept.10, the 31-year-old conservative influencer was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University’s campus. Different videos captured the moment a shot rang out. Videos also capture the chaos that sprang out afterwards, showing many students running away from the source of the shot.
Kirk, a well-known conservative who was the founder of the right-wing political group Turning Point USA and who helped campaign for President Trump amongst younger audiences, was at Utah Valley University for his first of 15 stops through American college campuses. His tour was entitled “American Comeback,” according to The New York Times.
Police initially arrested two people of interest for the shooting, but later released them with no evidence. The FBI later released photos of a suspect in a long black shirt, sunglasses and a black cap. Videos from students also began to surface, some depicting the alleged shooter running off the roof of the Losee Center.
From these photos, the father of the later-arrested suspect, Tyler Robinson, was able to identify his son. His father urged Robinson to turn himself in. With the help of a local priest who was a family friend, they tried to calm Robinson down as he had told authorities later that he would rather kill himself than turn himself in, according to CBS News. The priest called the authorities, who ultimately arrested 22-year-old-Robinson.
Various pieces of evidence were collected before and after Robinson’s detainment that connected him to the case. Authorities found a .30.06-caliber Mauser gun believed to be involved in the shooting in a wooded area where the shooter fled. After testing items left at the scene, authorities found DNA linking Robinson to the crime scene.
Investigators are also trying to analyze some bullet casings left at the scene. Different engravings were found on the casings.
According to an article from the New York Times, one fired bullet casing had the inscription, “Notices bulge OWO what’s this?” Another unfired casing read, “hey fascist, CATCH!” with an arrow pointing up, right, and three pointing down. Two other unfired casings read, “O Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Ciao, ciao!” and “If you read this, you are Gay LMAO.”
There has been no interpretation from law enforcement as to what these engravings mean or entail.
Law enforcement was also able to obtain footage depicting Robinson driving to campus and entering the Losee Center. Video footage showed Robinson climbing up to the roof of the center, as well.
In the charge document, there were many messages from Robinson to his romantic partner that were sent after the shooting, which further implicated him. The texts were detailed in the New York Times article Texts From Suspect in Charlie Kirk Shooting Offer Insight Into a Motive, reading, “You weren’t the one who did it, right????” (referring to the shooting). “I am, I’m sorry.”
Robinson allegedly confessed to the crime to some friends on Discord as well, according to an article from CBS News. He wrote, “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all this.”
In Discord, he also allegedly talked about a gun wrapped in a towel left in the woods with engraved bullets.
More messages emerged between Robinson and his partner. In the same New York Times article, another text is written. Robinson said, “I have had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
In the charging documents, prosecutors claimed that Robinson’s romantic partner was transitioning to change their gender. This is why prosecutors seem to be arguing that Robinson killed Kirk–because of his anti-trans stance, according to NPR.
Currently, no evidence of Robinson’s political status has been published, as he is not registered with a political party and has not voted in any elections. Although he grew up in a conservative family, Robinson’s mother had stated to investigators that Robinson in recent years had become “more pro-gay and trans-rights orientated,” according to The New York Times.
It was also revealed that Robinson went to the University for one semester in 2021, but at the time of the shooting, he was no longer a student.
Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm and obstruction of justice. He is being held without bail in special watch due to the risk of him harming himself or others.
As of now, his motive is still unclear. Robinson has not told police why he did it and there is no definitive proof as to why he committed the crime. Due to pieces of conflicting evidence, there is no way to point to a clearly defined motive as of yet.
Kayla Kiernan is a sophomore majoring in Spanish and political science and minoring in Italian.
