FBI Says DNA Evidence Links Suspect to Charlie Kirk Assassination

FBI Director Kash Patel said Monday that DNA evidence ties 22-year-old Tyler Robinson to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Speaking on Fox News’ Fox & Friends, Patel said DNA from a towel wrapped around a rifle found near the crime scene matched Robinson’s. Investigators also linked him through DNA to a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired.

Utah authorities are preparing to file capital murder charges against Robinson as soon as Tuesday. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday while addressing students at Utah Valley University. His death has fueled concerns about rising political violence in a deeply polarized United States.

Officials said Robinson had grown to hate Kirk and embraced a “leftist ideology” in recent years. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Robinson’s family and friends described him as spending long hours in the “dark corners of the Internet.”

Patel added that investigators recovered the contents of a note Robinson wrote before the attack, in which he said he had the opportunity to kill Kirk and intended to do so.

Over the weekend, Cox disclosed that Robinson’s romantic partner is transgender, though investigators have not determined whether Kirk’s outspoken opposition to transgender rights motivated the attack. Utah’s public safety commissioner, Beau Mason, said Monday that the partner has cooperated fully with investigators.

“We believe that Tyler Robinson acted by himself during this shooting,” Mason said, though authorities are still examining whether anyone knew of his plans in advance. Robinson has refused to cooperate with police since his arrest.

Investigators said ammunition recovered from the weapon carried anti-fascist slogans and internet meme references. One casing read: “Hey, fascist! Catch!”

Robinson was arrested Thursday near his hometown of St. George, in southwestern Utah. It remains unclear whether he has legal representation. His family has declined to comment.

Authorities also said another man, George Zinn, was briefly taken into custody after shouting, “I shot him, now shoot me,” during the chaos. Zinn later admitted he made the statement to distract police.

The shooting has raised questions about security at Kirk’s event, which was held outdoors with limited protection. Kirk often sought close contact with students during campus appearances, and his level of security varied from stop to stop.

Across the country, tributes poured in. Thousands attended a vigil at the Kennedy Center in Washington, while sports teams held moments of silence. At Utah Valley University, mourners decorated a memorial with flowers, flags, chalked Bible verses, and messages like: “Bullets can’t stop the truth.”

On Monday, Vice President JD Vance—Kirk’s close friend—guest-hosted The Charlie Kirk Show on Rumble. He recalled a conversation with Kirk’s widow, Erika, who told him her husband was never harsh or unkind to her.

“I took from that moment that I needed to be a better husband and a better father,” Vance said. “That is the way I’m going to honor my friend.”