The trade school student suspected of assassinating right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk is set to be charged in a Utah court on Tuesday, authorities confirmed.
Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump and founder of the influential youth movement Turning Point USA, was shot dead last week while speaking at a Utah university campus.
Investigators say 22-year-old Tyler Robinson fired a single rifle shot from a rooftop, striking Kirk in the neck. Robinson was captured after a 33-hour manhunt that gripped the state.
Kirk, a father of two, had built a vast online following on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where he championed conservative causes and frequently clashed with opponents, particularly over transgender rights. Known as a polarizing figure, he often went viral with tightly edited clips of fiery college campus debates.
The case has already sparked political firestorms. FBI Director Kash Patel is under intense scrutiny for his handling of the immediate aftermath, after the Bureau mistakenly announced the arrest of a different suspect—who was released just two hours later.
Patel is expected to face tough questions on Tuesday when he appears before a Senate panel.
The White House has meanwhile pledged to investigate what it described as a growing “left-wing domestic terror movement” in the wake of the killing—a move that has drawn sharp warnings from critics who fear it could be used to stifle legitimate political dissent.
About the Author
