The shooter’s potential motive was hinted at when the FBI discovered engraved messages, on both the single bullet that was fired to kill Kirk, and the spare casings that were left behind.
Speaking at the conference on Friday (12 September), the governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, shared more information as to how authorities were able to identify Robinson and the evidence that they believe points towards him being the shooter.
Cox also provided a potential motive for the killing, which they believe to have been politically motivated, after authorities received valuable information from a family member of Robinson before he was taken into custody.
“In the conversation with another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU. They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had,” the governor said.
The suspect reportedly talked about disliking Kirk at a recent dinner with his family, where he mentioned the conservative was coming to Utah, authorities said.
Robinson allegedly said at the dinner that ‘Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate’.
According to Cox, the 22-year-old was brought to law enforcement by his family, who the governor praised for ‘doing the right thing’.
It was confirmed that Robinson was taken into custody late last night, with Trump suggesting that they were very close to finding Kirk’s killer, also calling for the death penalty in the wake of the shooting.
At the press conference, Cox continued, saying: “We will never be able to solve all the other problems – including the violence problems that people are worried about – if we can’t have a clash of ideas safely and securely. Even – especially, especially those ideas with which you disagree.
“Your generation has an opportunity to build a culture that is very different than what we’re suffering through right now. Not by pretending differences don’t matter, but by embracing our differences and having those hard conversations.
“There is one person responsible for what happened here and that person is now in custody and will be charged soon and will be held accountable.”
Authorities were also able to track down Robinson thanks to video footage of his clothing and car, as well as Discord messages to his roommate, which included a reference to a bolt-action rifle, which was discovered wrapped in a towel not far from where the shooting took place.