OREM, Utah (AP) — DNA found on a towel wrapped around a rifle in connection with the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has matched that of Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of the crime, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Investigators have also linked Robinson to a screwdriver located on the rooftop where Kirk was shot, prompting officials to prepare capital murder charges against him as early as Tuesday. Kirk, a key figure in conservative politics who founded Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University.
The incident has triggered concerns regarding escalating political violence in a divided nation. Authorities revealed that Robinson expressed animosity toward Kirk and was influenced by a “leftist ideology,” according to statements made by Utah Governor Spencer Cox.
Robinson, who reportedly spent significant time in radical online spaces, wrote in a note that he intended to carry out the assassination. While law enforcement has noted his lack of cooperation, the investigation revealed troubling engravings on the ammunition used in the shooting, indicative of a political motive.
Robinson was apprehended shortly after the incident near St. George, Utah. Kirk's tragic death has generated widespread tributes, with public memorials drawing hundreds of attendees nationally, including a vigil at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
As the nation grapples with the repercussions of this event, Vice President JD Vance, a close friend of Kirk, planned to honor his memory as the host of Kirk's talk show.
