What we know
- The suspect arrested and accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been identified by officials as 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson.
- Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said his office is planning to file formal charges against the suspect on Tuesday.
- Investigators interviewed a member of Robinson’s family, who said he had become more political in recent years. The family member said Robinson recently told them that Kirk was coming to Utah Valley University and the pair discussed how they didn’t like Kirk and the viewpoints he held.
- Turning Point USA will hold a memorial service for Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sept. 21. The event will be titled “Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk,” the conservative advocacy group said in a statement.
Employees continue to face discipline for sharing opinions about Kirk
Employees continued to be disciplined over the weekend for sharing their opinions about the death of Charlie Kirk.
The actions come amid a broader wave of educators being axed or disciplined at work for their social media posts about the assassination.
George Washington University confirmed today that a staffer who posted criticism of Kirk’s stance on the right to bear arms is no longer a presence at the institution. The person in question did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“The university wishes to confirm that this individual was not authorized to speak on behalf of GW, and is no longer on campus due to the impact his social media post has had on his ability to perform his job duties,” George Washington University said in a statement.
The school said it “unequivocally condemns all forms of violence.” It added: “We believe everyone is entitled to their beliefs and no one should ever be subject to violence for expressing their views.”
The staffer was one of multiple people affiliated with educational institutions who were terminated, disciplined or removed from campuses nationwide in the last few days after it was alleged they went over the line in criticizing the conservative activist.
An employee at Clemson University has been suspended "pending further investigation into social media posts," the university said in a statement yesterday.
"We understand the frustration, and we share the deep concern over the nature of these posts," the university said. "However, we will continue to act within the bounds of the law and our University policies to ensure accountability and integrity."
People in other lines of work were also disciplined after negative remarks.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy alleged on X today that “American Airlines pilots ... were caught celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk” and have been grounded and removed from service.
“This behavior is disgusting and they should be fired,” he said.
Replying to a post with screenshots showing a pilot allegedly mocking Kirk’s death, American Airlines said on X today that it is addressing employee conduct, and it condemned “hate-related or hostile behavior,” which it called unacceptable.
Office Depot said in a statement today that an employee involved in an incident at a location in Portage, Michigan, yesterday is no longer with the company.
Video of the apparent incident was posted to social media. In the video, a customer seeking to print a poster promoting an upcoming prayer vigil for Kirk was rejected, with the worker saying, "We don't print propaganda."
The chain said it followed up with the customer and fulfilled the order while launching a rapid review that concluded with the employee's departure.
Also yesterday, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said in a memo to his workforce that a number of employees have been suspended pending investigation of their social media posts about Kirk. He said the posts may have gone beyond "healthy, respectful debate" while representing the company unfairly.
"Remember that we all represent Delta, at all times, in any forum," Bastian said in the memo.
In Forest Grove, Oregon, a science teacher at a public middle school was placed on leave after posting on Facebook that Wednesday's assassination "brightened up" his day, according to NBC affiliate KGW of Portland.
The Forest Grove School District said in a statement sent to the station that it "does not condone violence nor the celebration of violence."
Kash Patel says FBI ‘demanded’ video of suspect be released over law enforcement objections
FBI Director Kash Patel said today that his agency secured the release of video and stills showing the apparent shooter over the objections of Utah officials, a claim the state public safety department later seemed to contradict.
The release of video is what allowed the father of the suspect, Tyler Robinson, to recognize him and turn him in, Patel said. "Against all law enforcement recommendations, we demanded the video footage and enhanced stills of the suspect be released to the public," Patel said on X today.
Utah officials said at a news conference Wednesday after the attack that they would not release such video or images at that time. A spokesperson for the Utah Department of Public Safety said today that state authorities wanted to try different avenues, at least at first.
"Our stance was that it was a unified investigation and all decisions needed to be made in a unified manner and discussed to determine what was most beneficial to the investigation," the spokesperson said.
The strategy was to use facial recognition technology in hopes that innocent people who might look similar to the suspect were not caught unjustly in a dragnet, the spokesperson said.
"We did not recommend they not be released, however we first used technology (facial recognition) to try to identify [the shooter]," the spokesperson said. "This was tried in an attempt to increase safety to officers that may be affecting an arrest with out notifying the subject and also done in an attempt to not have other innocent individuals that look similar subject to scrutiny by the public. When that was unsuccessful we were fully supportive and in agreement we should release the photos."
Trump says he wants national healing — while blaming the ‘radical left’ as a barrier
Reporting from Washington
President Donald Trump said he hopes the nation will heal following the Kirk's assassination, though he suggested in an exclusive interview today with NBC News that a “radical left” contingent in the country stands as a barrier to reconciliation.
“I’d like to see it [the nation] heal,” the president said in a brief telephone interview. “But we’re dealing with a radical left group of lunatics, and they don’t play fair and they never did.”
Public records show that the suspect's last voter registration date was July 13, 2021, with no political party declared. Officials said he had only recently shown interest in politics. A relative recalled him criticizing Kirk during a dinner ahead of the Utah Valley University event.
Turning Point USA to host stadium-sized memorial service for Kirk in Arizona
Turning Point USA will hold a memorial service for Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sept. 21.
The event will be titled “Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk," the conservative advocacy group, which Kirk co-founded when he was 18 years old, said in a statement.
"Charlie died doing what he loved: fighting for truth, for faith, for family, and for America," the group said. "His sacrifice will endure as a guiding light for generations. Though our hearts are heavy, we do not grieve as those without hope."
Suspect could have been a CEO, former classmate says
Reporting from St. George, Utah
Jaida Funk, a former classmate of Tyler Robinson's, said that Robinson was a "straight-A student" who got nearly a perfect score on his ACT exam.
"I always thought I’d see him more as like a CEO or something," Funk added of Robinson, who is accused of killing Charlie Kirk. "Or like a businessman, some billionaire by 26 or something type thing, rather than what’s transpired now."
Funk described Robinson as a "really well-rounded and just a sharp, kind, respectful individual."
"I mean, the type of kid that reminds the teacher that they need to assign homework type thing," he added.
In terms of Robinson's temperament, Funk said Robinson was "more on the quiet side, but not like overly, weirdly quiet." He said he observed that Robinson preferred to socialize with his "inner circle," but wasn't unable to interact normally with other peers or adults.
Patel faces congressional hearings after missteps in Kirk assassination probe and turmoil at FBI
WASHINGTON — Hours after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel declared online that “the subject” in the killing was in custody. The shooter was not. The two men who had been detained were quickly released. Utah officials acknowledged that the gunman remained at large.
The false assurance was more than a slip. It spotlighted the high-stakes uncertainty surrounding Patel’s leadership of the bureau when its credibility is under extraordinary pressure, as is his own.
Patel now approaches congressional oversight hearings this coming week facing not just questions about that investigation but broader doubts about whether he can stabilize a federal law enforcement agency fragmented by political fights and internal upheaval.
Democrats are poised to press Patel on a purge of senior executives that has prompted a lawsuit, his pursuit of President Donald Trump’s grievances long after the Russia investigation ended, and a realignment of resources that has prioritized the fight against illegal immigration and street crime.
Group performs haka for Charlie Kirk in London
Reporting from London
A group of men and women performed a haka at a memorial event for Charlie Kirk in London on Friday.
The haka is a ceremonial Maori chanting dance of defiance that is a cherished cultural symbol of New Zealand.
Footage of the haka posted on X showed the group performing in front of a portrait of Kirk, drawing applause from a crowd of hundreds.
The crowd paid tribute to the conservative activist in front of London’s Montgomery Statue in Whitehall, close to the prime minister’s residence.
Turning Point USA board to meet today
The board of Kirk's conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA is meeting later today to "strategize," pastor and board member David Engelhardt told Fox News this morning.
“I’m on the board of Turning Point USA. Our board is getting together later today to strategize with the team," Englehardt told "Fox & Friends." "There will be 100,000 if not a million Charlie Kirks next, that will be the next play by the grace of God."
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA when he was 18 years old, and has served as its CEO.
Tens of thousands join far-right rally in London where Charlie Kirk is being mourned
Reporting from London
Tens of thousands of people descended on Britain’s capital on Saturday in what is expected to be the country’s largest far-right rally in decades, organized by anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson.
The “Unite the Kingdom” rally comes amid a surge of nationalism in the U.K., a far-right party topping the polls, and the murder of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk — an assassination Robinson has used to mobilize support in the run-up to the event.
Robinson — whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon — has long inspired rallies of mostly white, mostly male followers shouting soccer-style chants against Islam and immigration.
Woman says she came face-to-face with suspect in Kirk's killing hours before
Olivia Bishop says she came face-to-face with the suspect in Kirk's killing, Tyler Robinson, just before the slaying occurred.
Bishop, a resident of Orem, Utah, told KSL-TV — an NBC affiliate station — that she walked past the suspect on an empty street on Wednesday as he headed to Utah Valley University. Bishop said she thought Robinson's blank expression and choice to wear a black long-sleeved shirt on a hot day were "weird."
"It was kind of odd, I don’t know," she said. "Now that I think about it, it’s just very chilling to me."
She said she realized Robinson was the man she walked past earlier after watching surveillance footage authorities released of the suspected shooter fleeing the scene of the crime.
"Had I seen the imprint of a rifle down his leg, if I had looked at him a little longer, then immediately after that happened, would I have thought back to him," she said, "and been able to alert authorities quicker?"
Suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing had a new interest in politics and a ‘squeaky clean’ reputation
The “squeaky clean,” “considerate” kid who grew up in a family that celebrated his academic wins and time together in their suburban Utah community is now accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Tyler Robinson’s arrest Friday after a dayslong manhunt shocked his community and family.
His grandmother Debbie Robinson, who spoke with NBC News before her grandson’s name was made public, said she talks to her family every day and was not aware that her 22-year-old grandson, whom she described as “squeaky clean,” had attended the event at Utah Valley University where Kirk was killed.
Robinson, an electrical apprentice, had developed a recent interest in politics, officials said. People in his community near St. George in conservative southern Utah said that wasn’t typical of his family.
Charlie Kirk’s widow vows husband’s mission will continue
Kirk’s widow said Friday that her husband was a good man who wanted to be remembered for his courage and faith, and vowed that his movement will continue.
Speaking publicly for the first time since her husband was fatally shot Wednesday at Utah Valley University, Erika Kirk called those responsible for his death evil.
“The evildoers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done,” she said. “They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith and of God’s merciful love.”
“If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea,” she continued. “You have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country and this world. You have no idea. You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.”
Kirk shooting suspect referenced fascism and memes on bullets, officials say
The suspect accused of fatally shooting Kirk left behind ammunition engraved with a reference to fascism and obscure internet memes and video games, officials said Friday.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said inscriptions were found on at least four shell casings linked to Tyler Robinson, who was arrested early today in connection with the killing. One engraving read, “Hey fascist! Catch! ↑ → ↓↓↓,” a seeming reference, at least in part, to a video game.
In addition to the engraving referencing fascists, Cox also referred to engravings that contained more obscure references. On the fired casing, for instance, a message read: “notices, bulges, OWO, what’s this?”
The writing appears to be a reference to a meme about the online furry subculture and online role-play, said Jamie Cohen, an assistant professor of media studies at Queens College who researches memes. The meme has largely been used as a method of mockery and trolling, though its relevance to Kirk or the shooting is unclear.
Experts urged caution in interpreting the engravings, citing a long history of shooters using misleading or ironic messages, often mixing politics and internet culture in ways that defy easy categorization.
Toxic rhetoric, including calls for ‘civil war’ and retribution from the right, proliferates after Kirk killing
A stew of hypertoxic rhetoric has surged through social media and American discourse after Kirk’s killing, inflaming a political environment that was already deeply polarized.
The most concerning messages, experts told NBC News, are proclamations from far-right activists, Republican politicians and conservative influencers about a coming civil war and the need for retribution or payback against the left for Kirk’s killing. The phrase “civil war” has spiked on social media and in google searches.
While there had not been any known acts of violence connected to the Kirk killing as of Friday afternoon, the shooting sent a wave of fear across much of the U.S. political landscape. Many politicians are adding security in response to an uptick in death threats, and some canceled events and said they would be holding off on public appearances. The Democratic National Committee headquarters received bomb threats this week that authorities said turned out not to be credible.