Tyler Robinson, who was charged for allegedly killing Charlie Kirk, turned himself in to authorities in Washington County, Utah, after agreeing to come in peacefully, according to Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby.
Details of how Robinson was apprehended by authorities were released by Brooksby during a press conference held on Wednesday, afternoon, Sept. 17, at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Kirk was shot and killed during a “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. Robinson allegedly shot Kirk from the roof of the Losee Center, a building next to the grassy amphitheater at UVU where Kirk was interacting with 3,000 students and visitors.
Brooksby said he was “winding down for the evening, and at exactly 8:02 on the 11th,” he got a call from a retired detective.
The detective’s voice was “kind of shaky,” Brooksby recalled.
The detective, who has not been named, told Brooksby, “Hey, I know who Charlie Kirk’s shooter is. I know the family through religious association. He’s in Washington County now, and we’re working on trying to get him to come in voluntarily.”
Robinson was having suicidal ideation, knew it was inevitable he would be caught, was fearful of a SWAT team hit on his house and worried he would get shot by law enforcement, Brooksby said during the press conference.
Brooksby immediately called Sheriff Mike Smith in Utah County. “So for about 40 seconds, I’m telling Sheriff Smith, ‘I’m confident we have the shooter …’” and Smith asked how credible Brooksby’s source was.
Brooksby responded, “I trust the guy who called me with my life,” adding, “I think it’s time you get your lead investigators to Washington County.”
The detective knew Robinson’s family through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He “wasn’t a person in leadership” — it was just someone who they knew from their local congregation, Brooksby said.
Once the detective had driven Robinson and his parents to the sheriff’s office, Robinson was put on a couch with a bottle of water in the interview room. He sat with his parents in silence.
Robinson was “cooperative, somber, quiet,” but there was no concern of him being suicidal, Brooksby said.
Then federal and state officers picked him up, drove him back up to Utah County and checked him into the Utah County Jail, according to police accounts.
Robinson appeared virtually in 4th District Court Tuesday and was charged with seven counts, including six felonies. The Utah County Attorney’s Office said they would seek the death penalty in the case. Those crimes, according to the charges, are:
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Count 1: Aggravated murder, a capital felony, that the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused the death of Charlie Kirk.
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Count 2: Discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony. The defendant targeted Charlie Kirk because of political motives, knowing children would be present.
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Count 3: Obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, for moving firearm used in a crime.
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Count 4: Obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, for disposing clothing he wore during the shooting.
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Count 5: Witness tampering, a third-degree felony, directing his roommate to delete his texts.
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Count 6: Witness tampering, a third-degree felony, for directing his roommate to stay silent.
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Count 7: Violent offense in the presence of a child, a Class A misdemeanor.
Charging documents can be found here and here.
From his cell Tuesday, Robinson was seen during his court proceeding wearing a suicide-prevention smock, which court officials said is standard for high-profile prisoners at the Utah County Jail.
Robinson’s next court date is Sept. 29.
