Washington, Utah – Tyler Robinson, an 18-year-old from Utah, has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. Authorities say Robinson fired a rifle from a rooftop at Utah Valley University, killing Kirk and raising concerns about political violence in the country.

Robinson, who is now 22, was described as a promising student with a bright future. He had scored in the top percentile on his college entrance exam and received a four-year scholarship to Utah State University. His mother shared a video on Facebook celebrating his acceptance, expressing excitement for his future. However, just four years later, he is facing serious charges.

Investigators are still piecing together the events that led to the shooting. While a clear motive has not been established, Utah Governor Spencer Cox indicated that a family member reported Robinson had expressed negative views about Kirk prior to the incident. "They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints he had," Cox said.

Robinson has no prior criminal history and was registered to vote as an inactive voter, meaning he did not participate in the last presidential election. He had recently become more politically active, according to family members. Authorities found bullet casings with anti-fascist engravings linked to the shooting.

At the time of the shooting, Robinson was living with a roommate in St. George, Utah, about a 10-minute drive from his parents' home in Washington, a small community near Zion National Park. His parents are registered Republicans and have active hunting licenses. Social media posts show Robinson and his brothers engaging in shooting activities, which is common in a state with lenient gun laws.

Neighbors described the Robinson family as good people. Steven Green, a neighbor, said, "Great family, good kids," although he did not know Tyler well. Classmates from high school characterized Robinson as an average student with interests in music and video games, including popular titles like Halo and Call of Duty.

Robinson was arrested late Thursday after a family friend alerted authorities, stating that he had either confessed or implied his involvement in Kirk's murder. He graduated from Pine View High School in 2021 and briefly attended Utah State University before transferring to Dixie Technical College, where he was studying in an electrical apprenticeship program.

His mother, a social worker, and his father, who runs a stone countertop business, often shared family moments on social media, celebrating milestones and vacations. Most of their posts did not reflect any political views.

Robinson's arrest concluded a 33-hour manhunt for Kirk's killer, which included the temporary detention of two other individuals who were later released. He has been booked into the Utah County jail in Spanish Fork and has not yet been formally charged. The investigation continues as authorities seek to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.