Charlie Kirk’s assassin Tyler Robinson had become increasingly political in recent years and ranted just before killing him that the conservative activist was “full of hate,’’ officials said Friday.
Robinson, a 22-year-old former student at Utah Valley University, was seething about Kirk’s upcoming campus appearance during a dinner days before he fatally shot the close friend of President Trump, authorities said.
The suspect went on about how he “didn’t like [Kirk] and the viewpoints he had,’’ said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox at a press briefing, explaining a family friend at the dinner had recalled the exchange for authorities.
Robinson raged that “Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate,” Cox said, quoting the family pal — who acknowledged he was turned off by the level of vitriol being spewed by the suspect.
The killer was turned in by his dad through a minister who was a family friend, officials said.
Robinson at first told his dad he’d rather kill himself than surrender, law-enforcement sources said.
Three unfired casings found in the chamber of the rifle reportedly used by Robinson included left-wing slogans such as “Hey fascist! Catch!” engraved on the side along with an up arrow, a right arrow and three down arrows.
Another featured the words “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao,” referencing a popular Italian anti-fascist song, Cox said.
A third casing, engraved “If you read this, you are gay LMAO [laugh my a– off]” was found in the chamber of the weapon, a Mauser model 98 bolt-action rifle with a scope mounted on it.
The inscription on the fired casing read, “notices, bulges, OWO, what’s this?” Gov. Cox said.
Photos of him shared by his mother on social media seem to show a normal, happy family.
Pictures show the parents and their three kids enjoying trips to gun shows, vacations at theme parks, and sporting events.
There is no indication of a prior criminal record, a search of state and national public records shows, as authorities continue to build up a picture of Robinson’s actions and words in the days leading up to the shooting.
Authorities interviewed Robinson’s roommate, who showed them many Discord messages from the suspect sent after the shooting, including ones telling him to retrieve a rifle and giving details about where it would be found, wrapped in a towel, in a wooded area close to the Utah Valley University campus.
Other messages from Robinson said that he had changed his outfit in the wake of the shooting, Cox said.
Robinson was turned in after his father recognized him in photos released by the FBI on Thursday, law enforcement sources told The Post.
Stay up to date on the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
- Charlie Kirk shot dead at UVU event
- Charlie Kirk shot live updates: Tyler Robinson acted alone, officials say
- Charlie Kirk assassination suspect turned in by cop father, ID’d as 22 year-old Utah man
- Tyler Robinson acted alone in Charlie Kirk shooting, officials say
- Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin to be charged with aggravated murder
- Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin Tyler Robinson was seething over campus appearance, wrote ‘Hey fascist! Catch!’ on bullet
- Tyler Robinson threatened to kill himself rather than surrender after dad confronted him
- Tyler Robinson was raised Mormon — and allegedly killed Charlie Kirk moments after he praised the church
The father called the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and confronted his son when he returned home, at which point Robinson admitted he was the gunman, the sources said.
Robinson’s father asked him to turn himself in, but his son replied that he would rather kill himself.
The father then convinced his son to speak with their youth minister, who also serves as a task force officer with the US Marshals Service.
The minister called the FBI and agents later took Robinson into custody.
“We got him,” declared Gov. Cox as he opened Friday’s news conference, where he was joined by FBI Director Kash Patel, as they announced that the 33-hour manhunt finally came to a close Thursday night.
Director Patel concluded his remarks with an emotional tribute to his friend, Kirk, saying, “See you in Valhalla.”
