Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer reportedly made light-hearted comments to friends online about the extensive manhunt that ensued after the shooting incident.
Tyler Robinson, aged 22, was apprehended on Thursday evening following advice from his father to surrender to the authorities after the FBI circulated CCTV footage of the suspect. Prior to his arrest, the alleged shooter is said to have jestingly interacted with acquaintances on a Discord server about the blurry CCTV image shared by the police, showing a man in sunglasses and a cap on the Utah Valley University campus post the shooting.
Unaware of his wanted status, Robinson’s friends amusingly noted similarities between him and the image online. One friend even tagged Robinson on Discord, inquiring “wya” along with a skull emoji, to which Robinson promptly responded, attributing the resemblance to a doppelganger attempting to cause trouble.
According to The New York Post, the Discord chat turned to jokes about Kirk’s shooting, with one individual humorously suggesting, “Tyler killed Charlie!!!” Despite a $100,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest, the Discord group bantered about turning in Robinson, who even expressed interest in claiming a share of the reward, stating, “Only if I get a cut.”
Following his identification as the suspect in the fatal shooting, Robinson was arrested on Thursday night and is currently held without bail. Subsequent to his apprehension, his Discord acquaintances expressed disbelief, with one remarking, “I truly cannot distinguish if this is for real.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox revealed that the suspect had disclosed to a family friend during a pre-September 10 dinner that Charlie Kirk was expected at Utah Valley University. Another family member recounted the suspect’s grievances towards Kirk’s ideologies.
As investigations continue, officials have not disclosed a potential motive behind the killing. Former classmates of the accused shooter provided insights into his character, with some expressing belief that he would achieve significant wealth by age 25.
Jaida Funk, who shared elementary and middle school years with Robinson, described him as an exceptional student, noting his respectful and intelligent demeanor. She added that while not particularly popular, Robinson was well-regarded for his reserved yet confident nature.
If found guilty, Robinson could potentially face the death penalty, with Governor Cox and President Trump advocating for capital punishment in this case.