The suspect arrested in the shooting death of right-wing talk show host and activist Charlie Kirk at a college speaking event is in custody, authorities said in a news conference.

The shooter was identified as Tyler Robinson on Friday morning, Sept. 12, said Gov. Spencer Cox. He was taken into custody after a family member contacted a family friend, who told authorities Robinson had “confessed to them or implied that he committed the incident.”

A mugshot of the suspect has also been released.

Robinson was taken into custody at 10 p.m. local time on Thursday, FBI Director Kash Patel said. President Donald Trump first announced the suspect’s capture in an appearance on Fox and Friends earlier Friday.

A minister with a friend in law enforcement reportedly turned in the suspect in Kirk’s killing, the president said.

Kirk, 31, was killed by a single gunshot on Wednesday afternoon while speaking in front of some 3,000 people as part of his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. Kirk was answering an audience question about mass shootings when the bullet struck his neck, causing students and visitors to flee in panic.

Who Is Tyler Robinson, Who Allegedly Shot Charlie Kirk?

Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old man who attended school in the south Utah city of St. George, was named as the suspected shooter. Robinson has no criminal history according to state records.

Social media photos from Robinson’s mother, Amber, depict a tight-knit family where Tyler was the oldest of three sons. The family is shown on vacations to the Grand Canyon and on outdoor excursions like fishing trips.

In August 2020, Amber Robinson posted what appears to be an ACT college aptitude test score for Tyler – 34 out of 36 – that would place him in the top 1% of test takers, according to recent averages.

Tyler wore a Trump-related Halloween costume in 2017, according to Amber’s social media.

The eldest Robinson son graduated from Pine View High School in St. George in 2020, according to Amber Robinson’s social media.  The high school did not immediately respond to an inquiry from USA TODAY.

Tyler is photographed at Utah State University and was offered an academic scholarship to attend the Logan, Utah-based university according to a letter he read aloud in a video posted to Amber’s social media. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

Is Tyler Robinson Political Affiliation

Robinson is a registered voter in Utah, but does not have a party affiliation, USA Today reported.

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USA Today contributed to this story.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Who is Tyler Robinson? What to know about the suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting
Reporting by Natassia Paloma, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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