Prosecutor Details Moment Tyler Robinson’s Mother Recognized Him on the News — and What Happened Next

As authorities launched a manhunt following conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting, the mother of the man who would later be identified as the suspect saw the images released by investigators — and grew instantly worried.

Kirk, 31, was killed after being fatally shot in the neck during a Turning Point USA rally at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday, Sept. 10.

Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 11, after his family contacted law enforcement claiming he had indicated he was the shooter.

On Tuesday, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said at a press conference that authorities were charging Robinson with seven offenses including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and committing violence in the presence of children. Authorities announced they will seek the death penalty.

Gray shared further details of the investigation at the briefing, claiming that before Robinson’s father helped turn him in, it was his mother who had the initial suspicion that the person wanted for Kirk’s shooting was Robinson.

On Sept. 11, Robinson’s mother, who was not publicly named, saw photos released of the suspect and thought it might be her son, Gray said at Tuesday’s press briefing.

When she called Robinson to check on him, he allegedly said he was at home sick, and had been at home sick the previous day as well.

The mother then told Robinson’s father that she was concerned the suspect looked like Robinson, and his father agreed, per Gray.

Robinson’s mother told investigators that over the past year, he had grown increasingly more political, with his views at odds with those of his family members, especially his father.

Robinson had made statements that his father was a “pretty die hard MAGA” since President Donald Trump was elected to office, Gray said.

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Gray also read out text exchanges between Robinson and his roommate, who is not charged in connection with the shooting.

Asked why he murdered the right-wing activist, Robinson allegedly replied “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

Robinson allegedly told his roommate that he had planned the shooting for “a bit over a week.”

According to Gray, Robinson’s father told authorities he “believed that the rifle that police suspected the shooter used matched a rifle that was given to his son as a gift.”