Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailGet our free Inside Washington emailThe 22-year-old man accused of killing Republican activist Charlie Kirk told family members the Republican influencer was “full of hate” in the months before the shooting, investigators said on Friday morning. Tyler Robinson, the Utah man identified as the shooter, was apprehended by authorities Thursday evening after more than a day of searching for him. Officials said they were informed Robinson “confessed” or at least implied he fatally shot Kirk to a family member. “We got him,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox said in a press conference on Friday.Robinson, who reportedly became more political in recent years, expressed negative views of Kirk and told family members he believed Kirk was “full of hate and spreading hate,” Cox saidAfter acquiring a firearm, Robinson fatally shot Kirk, 31, on Wednesday while Kirk was hosting an event on Utah Valley University’s campus. Cox said the assassination of Kirk was an attack on all Americans and free speech. He condemned the political violence.open image in galleryTyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah man, has been identified by authorities as the suspect who shot Republican activist Charlie Kirk at a college campus on Wednesday (FBI)“I still believe in our country and I know Charlie Kirk believed in our country,” Cox said in an emotion speech at the end of the press conference. “Still believe that there is more good among us than evil, and I still believe that we can change the course of history.”Kirk, a Republican activist, was the co-founder of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit dedicated to engaging with high school and college-aged individuals on campuses. Kirk had dedicated most of his life to representing conservative beliefs and engaging in debate to spread right-wing policies to young people. He was well-known for engaging in, at time contentious, debates with young, liberal individuals. At the time of the shooting he was seated at a booth for his “Prove Me Wrong” segment and was answering questions about gun violence in the United States.Cox said Kirk’s was a “champion” for freedom of expression.Law enforcement spent more than a day searching for the suspected shooter and released photos and videos asking members of the public for help identifying a person of interest in the case. open image in galleryFBI Director Kash Patel and Utah Governor Spencer Cox led the press conference on Friday, condemning the political violence against Charlie Kirk (AFP via Getty Images)open image in galleryAuthorities believe Robinson had fired the shot that killed Kirk from the roof of a nearby building (UGC)Cox said one of Robinson’s family members recognized Robinson in photos and reached out to a family friend, who happened to be a minister, to coordinate with authorities. Trump had revealed some of those details while announcing the suspected shooter was in custody on Fox & Friends just hours before the press conference.Authorities had uncovered the firearm used in the attack and unspent ammunition at the scene of the shooting. Cox confirmed during the press conference that unused ammunition contained inscriptions that aligned with Robinson’s views. One read, “Hey, fascist! Catch!” with an up arrow symbol, right arrow symbol, and three down arrow symbols.Another said, “oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao” – an apparent reference to “Bella ciao,” an Italian song dedicated to those who fought against fascism during World War II.open image in galleryKirk was speaking with young people at Utah Valley University on Wednesday when Robinson, the suspected shooter, fired a single shot that killed him (via REUTERS)The third read, “If you read this, you are gay lmao.”Kirk’s death has rattled Republicans, including the president and his family. It marks the latest in a string of political violence that has deepened rifts within the country and made lawmakers worried for their safety.This is a breaking news story, more follows…
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Tyler Robinson claimed Charlie Kirk was ‘full of hate,’ investigators say as they detail what led to his arrest
