Investigators build case in Charlie Kirk killing
Just hours before Tyler Robinson was arrested for allegedly killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the 22-year-old appeared to take responsibility for the shooting in a message to friends on the chat platform Discord, a company spokesperson confirmed to CBS News on Monday.
"Hey guys, I have bad news for you all," read a message from an account that allegedly belonged to Robinson, according to the spokesperson and a law enforcement source. "It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this."
The messages were first reported by The Washington Post.
The messages came toward the end of a nearly two-day-long manhunt after Kirk was fatally shot during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Robinson confessed to his father. Robinson was taken into custody late Thursday night, FBI Director Kash Patel said Friday.
Over the preceding day, Patel ordered the release of half a dozen surveillance photos of the suspected shooter and asked the public for help solving the case, which drew nationwide attention and sparked new worries about the specter of political violence.
While the FBI looked for leads, according to two law enforcement sources, Robinson and his friends bantered about the shooting in a more than 20-person group on Discord. The platform is popular among gamers. The Discord spokesperson said an internal investigation by the company found "no evidence that the suspect planned this incident or promoted violence on Discord."
At least three friends asked Robinson if he was the shooter, saying the photos released by the FBI looked like him, the law enforcement sources said. He did not seem to refute it.
In one exchange, the sources said a friend appeared to tease Robinson by quipping that he should avoid McDonald's — where accused UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione was caught with a manifesto, a rifle and a fake ID late last year.
"Whatever you do don't go to a mcdonalds anytime soon," the friend wrote, according to the law enforcement sources.
The account appearing to belong to Robinson responded: "Better also get rid of this manifesto and exact copy rifle I have lying around."
Before the arrest, messages from the account belonging to Robinson appeared to suggest he planned to turn himself in to authorities, the Discord spokesperson confirmed.
One message read, "im surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments, thanks for all the good times and laughs, you've all been so amazing, thank you all for everything."
Robinson was later taken into custody on aggravated murder, obstruction and firearm charges. Cox says the state will seek the death penalty. Robinson could make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon, after officials file formal charges, Christopher Ballard, chief of staff for the Utah County Attorney's Office, has said.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News that he was arrested after Robinson's father saw the FBI's images and confronted his son. Robinson admitted to being the person in the photos, but when his father encouraged him to turn himself in, Robinson said he would rather die by suicide, the sources said. His father then called a youth pastor to help calm Robinson down — but the pastor, a court security officer, also called the U.S. Marshals Service.
Michael Kaplan is an award-winning reporter and producer for the CBS News investigative unit. He specializes in securing scoops and crafting long-form television investigations. His work has appeared on "60 Minutes," CNN and in The New York Times.
