Tyler Robinson ‘feared being shot by police before surrendering’ says sheriff
A sheriff involved with the arrest of the Charlie Kirk murder suspect says Tyler Robinson feared a SWAT team showing up at his apartment.
Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, was afraid of being shot by police and eventually agreed to surrender only if it was done peacefully, a sheriff involved with taking him into custody has said.
Mr Robinson appeared quiet and sombre when he arrived with his parents to turn himself in last Thursday at the Washington County sheriff’s office, a day after Mr Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University, said Sheriff Nate Brooksby.
“He didn’t want a big SWAT team at his parents’ house or his apartment,” said the sheriff, who was only involved with the surrender and not the broader investigation. “He was truly fearful about being shot by law enforcement.”
On Tuesday, prosecutors charged Mr Robinson, 22, with capital murder and announced they will seek the death penalty while revealing a series of incriminating messages and DNA evidence they say connect Mr Robinson to the killing of Mr Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and confidant of President Donald Trump.
Mr Robinson also faced his first hearing in the case Tuesday where a judge said he would appoint a lawyer to represent him.
Mr Robinson’s family have declined to comment since his arrest.
The shooting at Utah Valley happened barely a three-hour drive from where Mr Robinson grew up near St George.
The Washington County sheriff said he was stunned when a retired detective and a friend of the Robinson family called to say he knew the shooter’s identity and they were trying to convince him to come in voluntarily.
“I couldn’t fathom what actually came out of his mouth,” Mr Brooksby said. The sheriff said he was told Mr Robinson was possibly suicidal and in a remote area of the southwestern Utah county. An hour later, Mr Robinson arrived at the sheriff’s office where he was greeted by plainclothes detectives.
“He knew it was inevitable that he would be caught,” Mr Brooksby said. “If at the end of the day we accomplish him surrendering peacefully on his own, I’m going to make some concessions to make that happen.”
The September 10 shooting that stunned the nation and exposed deep political divides also left the Utah Valley campus reeling. On Wednesday, students returning for the first day of classes since then gathered silently and stared at the barricaded courtyard where Mr Kirk was hit while speaking.
Matthew Caldwell, 24, said his classmates were quieter and seemed more genuine about being in class even with sadness still in air.
“The way that we treat each other in our words can ultimately lead to things like this,” he said. “And I think everybody sort of understands that a little bit better now.”
Since the shooting, Donald Trump has threatened to crack down on what he calls the “radical left” and classifying some groups as domestic terrorists. Former president Barack Obama said this week Mr Trump had further divided the country rather than worked to bring people together.
On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee called on the chief executives of Discord, Steam, Twitch and Reddit to testify on how they are regulating their platforms to prevent violence.
“Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence,” committee chair Republican representative James Comer said, signalling a shift for congressional Republicans, who had previously scrutinised online platforms for policing free speech.
Investigators say that after Mr Robinson fired the single fatal shot, he texted his romantic partner and said to look under a keyboard for a note.
“I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” the note said, according to court documents.
After expressing shock, the partner, who lived with Mr Robinson, asked if he was the shooter. He responded: “I am, I’m sorry.” Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said DNA on the trigger of the rifle used to kill Mr Kirk matched Mr Robinson.
Law enforcement officials say they are looking at whether others knew about Mr Robinson's plans or helped him, but they have not said if his partner is among those being investigated, only expressing appreciation for the partner sharing information.
The partner apparently never went to law enforcement after receiving the texts. Mr Robinson remained on the run for more than a day until his parents recognised him in a photo released by authorities.
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