The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10 has shocked the nation, sparking grief, political debate, and a high-profile federal investigation. Now, chilling details are emerging about the alleged suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, including disturbing online messages he reportedly shared with friends in the days surrounding the shooting.
Authorities say Robinson, a Utah resident, was arrested two days after the attack following a tip from a family member. Federal Bureau of Investigation officials have since confirmed his identity and revealed pieces of evidence they believe tie him directly to the killing. Among the most alarming are messages exchanged over the online platform Discord—conversations that allegedly show Robinson joking about the murder, mocking investigators, and even discussing weapons used in the crime.
The Shooting That Shocked Utah Valley University
On Wednesday, September 10, Charlie Kirk was speaking to a crowd of more than 3,000 at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, as part of his widely known “Prove Me Wrong” debate series. The 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder was in the middle of answering a student’s question when a single shot rang out.
Witnesses reported seeing Kirk jolt before collapsing backward on stage. Security rushed to his aid and evacuated him to a nearby hospital. Not long afterward, President Donald Trump confirmed on Truth Social that Kirk had died from a gunshot wound to the neck.
The shooter fled the scene immediately. For nearly 48 hours, federal and state law enforcement coordinated a manhunt, releasing surveillance images and offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s capture.
The Identification of Tyler Robinson
By Friday, September 12, the investigation had zeroed in on Tyler Robinson. At a press conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed Robinson’s arrest and said authorities had been guided to him by a relative who came forward.
“Investigators identified an individual as the roommate of Robinson,” Cox said, explaining that the roommate provided screenshots of messages sent on Discord. “He showed several messages and allowed investigators to take photos of the screen. These photos consisted of various messages, including content of messages between the phone contact of Tyler and Robinson’s roommate’s device.”
According to the governor, the messages described retrieving a rifle from a “drop point,” hiding the weapon in a bush, using a scope, and even wrapping the rifle in a towel to avoid detection.
Discord Messages Raise Alarming Questions
Discord, a chat platform widely used by gamers and online communities, became a focal point of the investigation. Some initial confusion emerged, as the company claimed the early screenshots referenced by the governor had actually originated from Robinson’s roommate, who was describing a note Robinson allegedly left elsewhere.
But investigators and journalists soon uncovered further alleged messages from Robinson himself, shared in group chats with friends.
According to reports, after the FBI released images of the suspect, Robinson’s friends began tagging him online, some even using gallows humor. One friend posted the FBI’s image with the caption “wya” (where you at?) followed by a skull emoji.
Robinson’s alleged reply was chilling: he joked that the person in the FBI image was his “doppelganger” trying to get him in trouble.
When another friend typed, “Tyler killed Charlie!!!” Robinson did not deny the suggestion. Instead, he bantered back with sarcasm. At one point, when a group member suggested turning him in for the six-figure reward, Robinson allegedly replied: “Only if I get a cut.”
He also joked about notorious killers, with one friend warning him: “Whatever you do, don’t go to a McDonald’s anytime soon,” a reference to murderer Luigi Mangion.
Robinson reportedly played along, adding that he “better also get rid of this manifesto and exact copy rifle I have lying around.”
Perhaps most disturbingly, he appeared to mock reports that the bullets used in the shooting bore engravings referencing transgender issues. “CLEARLY made up by a dude in the briefing room,” Robinson allegedly wrote, dismissing it as fabrication.
Motive Under Scrutiny
As investigators sift through the digital evidence, officials say they are also examining Robinson’s potential motives.
Governor Cox disclosed that Robinson’s relatives had raised concerns in recent weeks about his growing hostility toward Kirk. At a family dinner, Robinson allegedly expressed his dislike for Kirk and his positions. He also reportedly mentioned that Kirk would soon be speaking at Utah Valley University.
“In the conversation with another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU,” Cox explained. “They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had.”
Authorities now believe Robinson may have planned the assassination at least partially around Kirk’s Utah visit, though the investigation is still ongoing.
FBI: “A Politically Motivated Killing”
While investigators have stopped short of declaring an official motive, law enforcement sources told reporters they are treating the case as a politically motivated killing. The fact that Robinson allegedly discussed firearms, a manifesto, and Kirk’s political positions has raised alarms about extremist radicalization.
The FBI has also confirmed that Robinson’s rifle, recovered from a hidden location, matched the ballistics of the bullet that struck Kirk.
Public Reaction and Political Fallout
The revelations have intensified an already emotional national debate. Supporters of Kirk expressed outrage that his suspected killer would allegedly mock the assassination in private messages. Critics of political violence called the exchanges chilling proof of how online radicalism and “edgelord” humor can blur dangerously into real-world violence.
President Trump called Robinson’s alleged messages “disgusting and deranged,” urging swift justice. Lawmakers across both parties condemned the act as an attack not only on one man but on democratic discourse itself.
What Comes Next
Robinson is currently in federal custody, facing charges of first-degree murder and federal terrorism-related enhancements. Prosecutors are expected to present the Discord messages, firearm evidence, and testimony from Robinson’s roommate and relatives as part of their case.
Meanwhile, Discord has pledged full cooperation with authorities, vowing to assist the FBI in retrieving account histories, metadata, and other potentially relevant information.
For many, however, the alleged contents of Robinson’s chats already paint a disturbing portrait: a young man mocking a killing, laughing off accountability, and trivializing the death of a public figure in front of thousands.
A Nation Left Reeling
Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University remains one of the most shocking acts of political violence in recent U.S. history. The emerging evidence against Tyler Robinson, particularly the Discord messages, has only deepened the sense of unease.
Whether those words were dark humor, desperate deflection, or chilling admissions of guilt, they now serve as a haunting window into the mindset of a man accused of carrying out a brazen public killing.
As the investigation continues, the messages left behind will likely play a central role—not only in Robinson’s trial but in the nation’s struggle to understand how political anger can spiral into deadly violence.
