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Sep 12, 2025
Charlie Kirk, prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was slain by an assassin’s bullet while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injury and died.
The suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, is in custody.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Liberty Nation News throughout the day for updates.
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September 12 (Day 3)
10:36 a.m.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen. We got him." These were the first words of the FBI press conference uttered by Utah Governor Spencer Cox. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, confessed to his father that he was the shooter.
Governor Cox detailed the investigation, revealing much of the process and evidence that seems to confirm Tyler's guilt. He also explained the engravings on the bullet casings. The fired round said: "Notices bulges OwO what's this?" The three unfired rounds read: "Hey fascist, catch!" "oh bella ciao, bella cio, bella ciao, ciao, ciao" and "If you read this, you are gay."
He was followed on the podium by FBI Director Kash Patel, who gave a summary of the timeline. Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith then thanked the federal government for their assistance and everyone else who was involved in the fast-paced investigation, with special focus on the public who got involved.
Governor Cox later explained that the shooting was more than just an assassination of an individual; it's an attack on everyone's freedom of expression.
After about 25 minutes, the governor opened the floor for press questions. the conference then concluded at 10:36 a.m. Eastern.
Watch the news conference with FBI Director Patel and Utah Governor Cox here:
10:05 a.m.
Law enforcement officials revealed that the suspect in custody is a 22-year-old from Washington, Utah. The press conference began at 4 minutes after 10 a.m. Eastern.
9 a.m.
A news conference initially scheduled for 9 a.m. Eastern has been delayed utnil 9:30, the Utah governor announced. CNN reported that two sources reported the suspect in custody had confessed to his father that he was the shooter.
Chris Swecker, a former assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigation Division, told the press that officials will now move from trying to identify the suspect to building a case for prosecution.
8 a.m.
President Donald Trump appeared on Fox and Friends Friday morning to announce authorities have a suspect in the Charlie Kirk shooting in custody. “I think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him in custody,” Trump said, though he also cautioned that he’s “subject to be corrected” and doesn’t want to go too far in sharing details.
After cautioning that his information is preliminary, the president revealed that a minister who is also a member of law enforcement was able to get in touch with the suspect’s father. The father then drove his son to police headquarters.
There is also another news conference scheduled for 9 a.m.
6 a.m.
Here's a recap and where things currently stand entering Day 3 of the manhunt for Charlie Kirk's killer, who remains at large:
Authorities in Utah have released a new video that shows the suspect lying prone on the corner of a building on campus before getting up, running across the roof, and dropping onto the lawn. The person was wearing a "very distinctive" black t-shirt with an American flag and what appears to be an eagle. He also wore a backpack, sunglasses, a hat with a triangle on it, jeans, and Converse sneakers. Earlier in the day yesterday, authorities said he appeared to be of college age and blended in well on campus.
Police found the imprints of a shoe and forearm and the shooter's left hand. They also found a discarded Mauser bolt-action .30-06 rifle with a long-range scope. The spent shell casing and three chambered rounds were engraved with what agents first interpreted as "expressions of transgender and anti-fascist ideology," but that information remains unverified.
Another video from yesterday shows what appears to be the shooter walking through a nearby neighborhood. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for any information leading to the identification and arrest of the shooter. They have received more than 7,000 leads and tips, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox said they have conducted nearly 200 interviews. He also said that the state will pursue the death penalty once the killer is caught.
September 11 (Day 2)
4:30 p.m
Vice President JD Vance landed in Utah. He's expected to meet with family and friends of Charlie Kirk and then escort them and Charlie's remains aboard Air Force Two to Phoenix, Arizona.
2:40 p.m.
A news conference with the FBI and Utah police officials was canceled about 20 minutes after being scheduled. The stated reason was "rapid developments," according to Hillary Koellner, a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Public Safety. She said the conference would be held later in the day. Nicholas Bogel-Borroughs of The New York Times later reported that a public safety spokesperson told him they still didn't have anyone in custody.
1:20 p.m.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person who shot and killed the conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The announcement of the award came shortly after the bureau published two images from a security camera of a person in sunglasses and a black cap whom agents were seeking to question in connection with the shooting.
12 p.m.
The FBI has released images of another “person of interest” – whether it’s the shooter or not remains to be seen, though he does fit the description given during the FBI’s news conference earlier in the day.
“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,” the FBI posted along with the images on its X profile. Anyone who has any tips should call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
From the FBI's X post11:45 a.m.
The US Department of State announced it will “undertake appropriate action” against foreigners in the United States “praising, rationalizing, or making light of” the assassination of Charlie Kirk, according to Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau.
“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Landau wrote in a post on X.
11:00 a.m.
The bolt-action rifle was later identified as an older-model Mauser .30-06. Federal officials are also reportedly investigating a variety of phrases related to cultural issues found scrawled on both the rifle and some ammunition found with it. The Wall Street Journal reports that, according to sources, the phrases are of transgender and antifascist ideology.
10:00 a.m.
President Donald Trump announced this morning he will posthumously give Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that can be awarded to a civilian.
“Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions of millions of people,” the president said.
9:15 a.m.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason spoke first at the FBI’s news conference, which began at about 9:15 a.m. Eastern. He began by acknowledging 9/11. He announced that, last night, Charlie’s body was sent to the medical examiner. Two “people of interest” were investigated yesterday but were later released and are not considered suspects.
Authorities were able to track the shooter’s movements, who arrived at the campus just before noon. He quickly went to his shooting position on a rooftop and then fled afterward. There is “good video” of the shooter, which is not being released to the public as of yet. The shooter’s identity remains a mystery, but they’re working on discovering who he is and where he went after leaving the university.
The FBI special agent in charge, Robert Bohls, then took the stage and announced that the rifle was found and is being investigated. The FBI has received more than 130 tips and are investigating them all.
In response to one reporter’s question, they explained that this was a targeted event and they don’t believe the community at large is in danger. Law enforcement does have images of the suspect, but they aren’t releasing any of that information lest it interfere with the investigation. They did explain that the shooter appeared to be college-age and blended in well.
After just a few more questions, most of which met with some version of “that’s part of the investigation and we can’t release that information,” the briefing concluded at 9:26.