Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced at a press conference Friday morning September 12, 2025 that police have arrested Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. (FOX News). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced “We got him” at a press conference Friday morning September 12, 2025, referring to the news that police arrested, Tyler Robinson, a suspect in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University at 12:23 MDT on September 10, 2023.
On the evening of September 11 a family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to a family friend, who contacted the Washington County Sheriffs Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them, or implied that he had committed the incident. This information was relayed to the Utah County Sheriffs Office and scene investigators at Utah Valley University. This information was also conveyed to the FBI. Investigators reviewed additional video footage from UVU surveillance and identified Robinson arriving on UVU campus in a gray Dodge Challenger at approximately 8:29 AM on September 10th in which he is observed on video in a plain maroon T-shirt, light colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo, and light colored shoes. When encountered in person by investigators in Washington County on September 12th in the early morning hours, Robinson was observed in consistent clothing with surveillance images. Investigators interviewed a family member of Robinson, who stated that Robinson had become more political in recent years. The family member referenced a recent incident in which Robinson came to dinner prior to September 10th and in the conversation with another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU. They talked about why they didn’t like him and the view points that he had. The family member also stated that Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate. The family member also confirmed Robinson had a gray Dodge Challenger.
Investigators identified an individual as the roommate of Robinson. Investigators interviewed that roommate who stated that his roommate — referring to Robinson — made a joke on Discord. Investigators asked if you would show them the messages on Discord. He opened it and showed several messages to investigators and allowed investigators to take photos of the screen as each message was shown by Robinson’s roommate. These photos consisted of various messages, including content of messages between the phone contact named Tyler with an emoji icon, and Robinson‘s roommate’s device. The content of these messages included messages affiliated with the contact Tyler, stating a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush. Messages related to visually watching the area where a rifle was left, and a message referring to having left the rifle wrapped in a towel. The messages also refer to engraving bullets and a mention of a scope and the rifle being unique. Messages from the contact Tyler also mentioned that he had changed outfits.
I know there’s been speculation as well as to the writing on those casings … those bullet casings and I believe we have that as well and I will share that with you now.
So the area north of Campus Drive road where the suspect crossed over … you saw some of that in the video that we released last night, consists of a grassy area with trees on the edge of the UVU campus. Investigators discovered a bolt action rifle wrapped in a dark colored towel. The rifle was determined to be a Mauser model 98 30/06 caliber bolt action rifle. The rifle had a scope mounted on top of it.
Investigators noted inscriptions that had been engraved on casings found with the rifle.
Inscriptions on a fired casing read …
“Notices bulges OWO What’s this?” OwO is apparently an emoji for the face of an owl. Bulges might refer to erection in pants — but not sure (See Urban Dictionary “Bulge” or “Bulges”).
Inscriptions on the three unfired casings read …
Unfired Casing 1: “Hey fascist! Catch!” Followed by an up arrow, right arrow, 3 down arrow symbols.
Unfired Casing 2: “Oh Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Bella ciao, ciao” (Bella Ciao comes from an Italian folk song, meaning “goodbye, beautiful” or “goodbye, my beautiful.”
Unfired Casing 3: “If you read this, you are gay LMAO”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox emphasized thanking the family members Tyler Robinson, the family of Charlie Kirk, the public, and law enforcement personnel.
“I want to highlight what governor Cox said: This would not have been possible without you the media, and you the public. That’s why we went so public so fast, and we’re so transparent, and we’re committed to that transparency.”
— Kash Patel, FBI Director
“I want to express my deep gratitude to the employees of the FBI the men and women the evidence response team tacticians the special operators the agents, the support staff you have done monumental work in historic time when the public who had a right to demand an expeditious solving of an investigation the FBI answered that call diligently critically important to our nation and we delivered and I’m proud to be there and I’m proud to be the director of the FBI”
— Kash Patel, FBI Director
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the importance of transparency and the rapid work of the FBI and ATF processing thousands of leads, and said this is what happens when you let cops be cops. He complimented the coordinated work of multiple law enforcement agencies in the State of Utah. Kash Patel classified the operation as “monumental work in historic time.”
Kash Patel also gave special thanks to the Attorney General and the Department of Justice.
Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith thanked the public, especially the public that turned to prayers, and especially the Kirk family.
Important Points Revealed in the Question and Answer Period …
Tyler Robinson was booked at Utah County Jail.
Tyler’s family and a friend help take Tyler Robinson into custody in Washington County, which is southwestern most part of the state of Utah. It’s about a 3 1/2 to 4 drive from Orem, Utah.
Investigators discovered that Tyler Robinson drove his car on campus, and surveillance cameras also detected his car southbound toward the city of Washington, which is in south central Washington County, Utah in the St. George Metropolitan Area.
When Tyler Robinson was first spotted on campus, he has wearing different clothing than the clothing he was wearing during the shooting and during his exit route from the roof. He apparently changed clothing on the roof before the shooting. At some point (not specified), Robinson changed back into the original clothing he was wearing before the shooting. When he was arrested, he was wearing clothing that matched the clothing he was wearing before the shooting.
In the State of Utah, law enforcement has three days to file charges.
No pending charges were indicated for any co-conspirators.
New Video Summary …
A video was released Thursday night, September 11, 2025, showing the roof of the building with the shooter’s vantage point, where the shooter was visualized in the top left corner of the video frame, and where he proceeded to the right corner of the building. He climbs off the edge, and drops down to the ground. He left some palm impressions, and there’s some smudge on some places where investigators are looking to collect DNA. There’s also a shoe print on the ground. The suspect is clearly identified as wearing Converse tennis shoes.
SUSPECT PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION IMAGES BELOW ADS …
We are asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
1-800-CALL-FBI
Digital media tips: https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ pic.twitter.com/ALuVkTXuDc— FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) September 11, 2025
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