Suspected Attacker Of Charlie Kirk Surrenders After Father’s Plea And Talk With Pastor

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

OREM/WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – The suspected gunman in the assassination of U.S. Christian conservative influencer Charlie Kirk surrendered after his father recognized him in police photos and, with help from a youth pastor, persuaded him to give up — a decision made harder by the possibility that his son could face the death penalty.

Authorities identified the suspect as Tyler James Robinson, 22, of Utah, the U.S. state in the western Rocky Mountain region. He is being held without bail at the Utah County Jail on charges including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and a firearms offense, law enforcement officials said.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox publicly praised Robinson’s relatives. “I want to thank the family members of Tyler Robinson who did the right thing,” he told reporters.

Law enforcement officials said Robinson’s father contacted a youth pastor, who also serves on a U.S. Marshals task force, to help coordinate his son’s surrender. Robinson initially resisted, but later agreed to cooperate.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump, a close ally of Kirk, confirmed the father’s role during an interview with broadcaster Fox News. “Somebody that was very close to him turned him in. Essentially went to the father. … And the father convinced the son. ‘This is it,’” Trump said.

WEAPON AND EVIDENCE

Shortly after he was apprehended, police recovered a bolt-action Mauser .30-06 hunting rifle with a scope, identified as the murder weapon, along with spent and unused rounds, investigators said. Several cartridges reportedly bore taunting inscriptions, including the phrase “Hey fascist! Catch” and cultural references.

Officials said investigators also reviewed Robinson’s online communications, “including chats,” through Discord, a global messaging platform for text, voice, and video chats widely used by young people and online communities.

While often harmless, extremists have sometimes exploited the service, according to officials. Law enforcement can obtain messages through subpoenas, company cooperation, or witnesses who share screenshots.

Yet questions remained about why the alleged gunman remained undetected despite his social media presence. Kirk, 31, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was struck in the neck and killed on Wednesday while addressing students at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, a city about 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of Salt Lake City, the state capital.

The suspect allegedly fired from the roof of a nearby campus building roughly 200 yards (183 meters) away. Kirk, who openly professed his Christian faith, leaves behind his wife and two young children.

The attack shocked both supporters and critics, drawing tributes from Christian leaders and politicians nationwide. Authorities continue investigating the motive, while stressing that Robinson appears to have acted alone.

DEATH PENALTY DEBATE

As many mourned his death, the debate over capital punishment intensified following Kirk’s assassination. Trump stressed his support for capital punishment in this case: “I hope the shooter gets the death penalty.”

Kirk himself had also openly supported it. In a recent campus exchange, he said: “I believe in a small but strong government and, for the record, I believe that someone who took a life should have their life taken.” When pressed whether this should apply in most cases, he added: “Under most, yeah.”

At least some Christians disagree with Kirk and Trump on capital punishment, saying it amounts to “revenge” and may prevent a criminal from seeking repentance and turning to Christ Jesus, who died for all sins and was resurrected to give eternal life to all who believe in Him.

The Vatican has pressured the United States to abolish the death penalty, while the European Union and the Council of Europe have made ending capital punishment a condition of membership.

Yet if convicted, the suspect will likely receive the death penalty in Utah for the high-profile assassination that commentators compared to the April 4, 1968, killing of Martin Luther King Jr., the American Baptist pastor, civil rights leader, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Utah is one of 24 U.S. states that still allows the death penalty, which applies mainly to aggravated murder cases. Execution is usually by lethal injection, but firing squad remains an option if injection drugs are unavailable — making Utah one of the only U.S. states with that option.

UTAH LEGISLATURE CRITICISM

The last execution in Utah took place in 2010, when Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed by firing squad.

In 2022, Utah lawmakers considered a bill to abolish capital punishment and replace it with life in prison without parole.

The bill was sponsored by Republican Representative Lowry Snow and Senator Daniel McCay. It had bipartisan support but ultimately failed to pass.

Supporters argued that the death penalty is costly, rarely used, and risks wrongful convictions.

Opponents said it was needed in the “most heinous” cases, including aggravated murder.

(With additional reporting by the Worthy News Europe Bureau in Budapest and reporting from the Netherlands.)

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