Charlie Kirk: Discord Messages Reveal Tyler Robinson's Apparent Confession to Charlie Kirk's Killing
It has been discovered that Tyler Robinson, 22, the man accused of shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University last week, appeared to confess to the crime in private messages on Discord shortly before his arrest. In a message shared with friends, Robinson reportedly wrote, "It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this." The messages, which came during the final stages of a 33-hour manhunt, were confirmed by a spokesperson for Discord. Robinson also told his friends he planned to turn himself in, saying, "im surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments, thanks for all the good times and laughs".
Kirk, a prominent conservative figure known for his strong views on gun rights, abortion, and LGBTQ issues, was shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University last Wednesday. The killing sparked outrage and a national debate about political violence. After a lengthy search, Robinson was taken into custody late Thursday night following a confrontation with his father, who had seen images of the suspect released by the FBI. Authorities say Robinson confessed to his father but initially resisted turning himself in.
Messages from Robinson’s private group chat on Discord reveal a chilling exchange in which friends jokingly speculated about his involvement in the shooting after seeing similarities between the pictures released of the suspect and Robinson, but he did not deny being involved in the shooting. They also joked that Robinson should avoid McDonald’s, which is where Luigi Mangione, who shot the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was caught. One message from Robinson’s account reportedly read, "Better also get rid of this manifesto and exact copy rifle I have lying around." The platform has confirmed it shared the messages with law enforcement but found no evidence of any violent promotion or planning on its site.
The investigation into Robinson's motive is still unfolding. Utah Governor Spencer Cox suggested that Robinson had been influenced by "leftist ideology" and had previously been critical of Kirk. At least seven social media accounts including Robinson’s are also under investigation, with some posts appearing to fantasize about Kirk’s assassination before the shooting. However, no evidence has been found that links anyone else with Robinson’s shooting of Kirk.
Robinson is facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and firearm violations, with the state of Utah considering the death penalty. His first court appearance is expected to be soon as the FBI and local authorities continue their investigation into the events surrounding Kirk’s death.
