(File Photo: Source for Photo: People hold candles and sing during a memorial and prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Family and friends of the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk described his politics as veering left in recent years as he spent large amounts of time scrolling the “dark corners of the internet,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Sunday.

Investigators were still piecing together information about the suspect, Tyler Robinson, and not yet ready to discuss a potential motive. But Cox noted that Robinson, who is not cooperating with law enforcement, disliked Kirk and may have been “radicalized” online.

Kirk founded Turning Point USA to bring more young, conservative evangelical Christians into politics as effective activists, and he was a confidant of President Donald Trump, leading to a flood of tributes that included a vigil Sunday night at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, became prominent in part through his speaking tours, and he was shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University.

“There clearly was a leftist ideology,” Cox said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” citing interviews with Robinson’s relatives and acquaintances. “Friends have confirmed that there was kind of that deep, dark internet, the Reddit culture, and these other dark places of the internet where this person was going deep.”

He pointed to references found engraved on the ammunition used to kill Kirk, which included anti-fascist and meme-culture language. Court records show that one bullet casing had the message, “Hey, fascist! Catch!”

A Republican who has called on all partisans to tone down their rhetoric following the attack, the governor added: “I really don’t have a dog in this fight. If this was a radicalized MAGA person, I’d be saying that as well.”

Utah’s governor says a motive still isn’t pinned down

Cox stressed on several Sunday morning news shows that investigators are still trying to pin down a motive for the attack on Kirk. The governor said more information may come out once Robinson appears in court Tuesday.

Cox said the suspect’s partner was transgender, which some politicians have pointed to as a sign Robinson was targeting Kirk for his anti-transgender views. But authorities have not said whether it is relevant as they investigate Robinson’s motive.

“The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female,” Cox said. “I can say that he has been incredibly cooperative, this partner has been very cooperative, had no idea that this was happening.”

Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s relatives and carried out a search warrant at his family’s home in Washington, Utah, about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of Utah Valley University.

State records show Robinson is registered to vote but not affiliated with a political party and is listed as inactive, meaning he did not vote in the two most recent general elections. His parents are registered Republicans.

The suspect grew up in southwestern Utah

Robinson grew up around St. George, in the southwestern corner of Utah between Las Vegas and natural landmarks including Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.

He became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church, at a young age, church spokesperson Doug Andersen said.

Online activity by Robinson’s mother reflects an active family that traveled widely. In one photo, a young Robinson can be seen smiling as he grips the handles of a .50-caliber heavy machine gun outside a military facility.

A high school honor roll student who scored in the 99th percentile nationally on standardized tests, he was admitted to Utah State University in 2021 on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a video of him reading his acceptance letter that was posted to a family member’s social media account.

But he attended for only one semester, according to the university. He is currently enrolled as a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George.

Tributes emphasize Kirk’s religious faith

The vigil at the Kennedy Center was among numerous tributes to Kirk that also included moments of silence at professional sporting events. The line of mourners in Washington wrapped around the center. Some people wore suits or summer dresses, while others were dressed in jeans and wore “Make America Great Again” caps.

Seventeen-year-old Domiano Maceri and his mother drove about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Purceville, Virginia, to attend the Kennedy Center event. He said Kirk helped him find a way to better talk with friends who hold different opinions.

“I definitely feel like I was inspired in different ways,” Maceri said as he waited to get inside. “It definitely gave me confidence to speak to my friends about my beliefs more.”

Speakers included White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, two House members whose remembrances of Kirk were briefly stalled when they teared up, and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“Father, help us remember the principles of your word that Charlie worked every day — to advance that we not return evil for evil but we overcome evil with good,” Johnson prayed.

At Dream City Church in Phoenix, where Kirk hosted one of his “Freedom Night in America” gatherings, attendees viewed clips of the conservative activist discussing his desire to be “remembered for courage for my faith.”

During a question-and-answer session, a church pastor, Angel Barnett, called on the crowd to honor Kirk by carrying on his message.

“The left is nervous,” Barnett said. “And they’re concerned because they’ve lost control. Charlie started that, and we will continue it.”

Added church panelist Brandon Tatum: “These cowards thought that they could end or eliminate the movement.”

“They just made it bigger. They just made it stronger.”

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh report that forty-six-year-old Jequetta Bledsoe of Pittsburgh was charged after causing a single-vehicle crash in Pittsburgh which deployed her vehicle’s airbag and caused frond end damage to her vehicle on July 26th, 2025. Bledsoe was driving on I-376 East under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and hit both the right barrier of the road and then the left barrier of the road after she left the lane of travel that she was driving on. UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh is where Bledsoe was transported to after she suffered minor injuries from this crash. According to police, Bledsoe was charged for “driving on roadways laned for traffic” and Trooper Marsh of the Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Fire Department, Pittsburgh EMS and PennDOT assisted Bledsoe on the scene.

(Photo Courtesy of of Rick Orienza, Director of Marketing and Relations at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Midland, PA) Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland will host the first show of its 2025-2026 Clearview Federal Credit Union Subscription Series, Find Your Way! as they will present the award-winning Broadway classic musical Guys and Dolls for the first time ever. The show dates for this show are October 3rd, 4th and 5th of 2025 and October 10th, 11th and 12th of 2025. Guys and Dolls is a comedic musical which takes place in New York City and follows a gambler named Sky Masterson who meets a missionary named Sarah Brown there. The relationship between Sky and Sarah affects the plan of Sky and his fellow gamblers wanting to put on the biggest game of craps in New York City while still trying to not get caught by the law. Tickets for this show start at $18, and you can get tickets by calling 724-576-4644 or by visiting the online link below:

Click here for the website for Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center and then click the green Tickets button below the Guys and Dolls graphic to buy tickets. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: This photo released by the Utah Governor’s Office on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025 shows Tyler Robinson. (Utah Governor’s Office via AP)

(AP) The man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk was being held Friday at the Utah County jail. Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice charges, according to a court affidavit. A judge ordered that he be held without bail. Formal charges are expected early next week.

Robinson had become “more political” recently and had indicated to a family friend afterwards that he was responsible, said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. The governor also cited as key pieces of evidence engravings on bullets found in a rifle believed to have been used in the attack, as well as chatting app messages that a roommate shared with law enforcement after the shooting.

Cox said Robinson is believed to have acted alone. He would not say if Robinson is cooperating with authorities. The suspect’s father saw surveillance photos and worked with a pastor to encourage his surrender, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.

The assassination shows how ordinary security measures can be defeated in this era of escalating political violence, when anyone associated with the political process is a potential target.

The Latest:

US military services say the suspect did not serve

Tyler Robinson has no affiliation with the military, officials from all the military services have confirmed.

Here are the charges Tyler Robinson faces in Charlie Kirk’s killing

Robinson was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a weapon causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice. All are state felony charges and aggravated murder carries the possibility of the death penalty.

Formal charges are expected early next week.

There is no defense attorney yet listed for Robinson in court records.

State and federal court records do not show any prior criminal cases involving Robinson.

Suspect’s mother’s social media posts portray a happy family

Robinson has two younger brothers and his parents have been married for about 25 years, according to his mother’s social media posts. The family lives in a suburb of the city of St. George in southern Utah. That’s about a 3.5 hour drive south of the Utah Valley University campus where Kirk was shot.

The social media posts indicate his family was active, with photos of vacations to Disneyland, Alaska and St. Kitts and time outdoors spent fishing, zip-lining and target shooting.

Suspect’s father recognized him, AP source says

Robinson’s father recognized him from images released by authorities and encouraged him to turn himself in, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

He refused at first, but then changed his mind, according to the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.

His father reached out for help to a youth pastor, who helped Robinson turn himself in.

— Lindsay Whitehurst

Details emerge about Kirk shooting suspect

Tyler James Robinson was admitted to Utah State University on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a video of him reading his acceptance letter posted to a family member’s social media account. A university spokesperson says he attended for only one semester in 2021.

Utah state records say Robinson was registered as a voter but not affiliated with either political party.

Vance thanks officials after arrest

Vice President JD Vance credited Utah officials and the FBI for their efforts in capturing the suspected shooter.

“We took a big step this morning in getting justice for Charlie, and for his family. Thanks be to God for that,” Vance wrote.

Cox calls social media a ‘cancer on our society right now’

The Utah governor was referencing the rapid spread of graphic video of Kirk’s fatal shooting, along with the recent release of video a deadly stabbing on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina.

He said Americans aren’t used to seeing such graphic imagery. He encouraged people to step away from their devices and spend time with family instead.

“This is not good for us. It is not good to consume,” Cox said. “Social media is a cancer on our society right now.”

FBI director shares timeline of investigation

The first FBI agents arrived on the scene at Utah Valley University some 16 minutes after Kirk was shot on Wednesday, Patel said at the news conference.

The bureau released the first photos of the suspect on Thursday morning, followed by the announcement of a cash reward and then the release of video of the suspect climbing down from the roof of a campus building and running away.

“Just last night, the suspect was taken into custody at 10 p.m. local time,” Patel announced.

Governor says Kirk’s assassination ‘is an attack on all of us’

Cox said some people have asked why there have been so many resources dedicated to investigating Kirk’s killing when there’s violence around the country, but the governor said it is “much bigger than an attack on an individual. It is an attack on all of us.”

The Republican said Kirk’s killing is “an attack on the American experiment” and values, and “cuts to the very foundation of who we are.”

Details of messages on bullet casings revealed

Bullet casings discovered by investigators had several inscriptions engraved on them, Cox said. The casing that had been fired read: “notices bulges OWO what’s this?”

1. Cox said there were three unfired casings:

2. One read, “hey fascist! catch!” with an up arrow symbol, right arrow symbol, and three down arrow symbols.

3. Another one read: “oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao,” Cox said.

4. The third fired casing read: “if you read this you are gay lmao.”

Utah governor on Kirk suspect: ‘We got him’

Cox opened a news conference on the latest developments in Kirk’s assassination with that statement.

Cox said the assassination suspect had grown more political and was opposed to Kirk’s beliefs, and that he had indicated to a family friend that he was connected to the shooting.

The president describes how he learned of Kirk’s assassination

Near the end of his Fox interview, Trump said he’d been holding a meeting about building the new White House ballroom when his aides interrupted.

“They came in and they said, ‘Charlie Kirk is dead.’ I didn’t know what they meant. I said, ‘What do you mean, dead?’” Trump said.

”‘Charlie Kirk was shot.’ And they thought it was dead because it was so horrific.”

Trump said he swiftly ended his meeting. “I just told these people, “Get out, you gotta go.”

Suspect in custody in connection with Charlie Kirk shooting is 22-year-old from Utah, AP source says

The suspect in custody in connection with the assassination of Charlie Kirk is a 22-year-old from Utah, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Tyler Robinson, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

— Alanna Durkin Richer

Trump says political events must continue despite safety concerns

“You have to go forward,” the president said when asked about appearances getting cancelled after Kirk’s assassination.

A news conference with investigators is scheduled at the top of the hour

State and federal officials in Utah are planning to hold a news conference at 9 a.m. ET on the investigation.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls are expected to attend.

Trump: ‘With a high degree of certainty, we have him’

President Donald Trump said Friday that the suspect in the Charlie Kirk killing has been captured.

“With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump announced in a live interview on Fox News Chanel on Friday morning.

Trump said a minister who is also involved with law enforcement turned in the suspect to authorities.

“Somebody that was very close to him said, ‘Hmm, that’s him,’” Trump said.