What we know about Tyler Robinson, suspect in Charlie Kirk killing

OREM, Utah (NewsNation) — The man suspected of killing Charlie Kirk is Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old man from southern Utah, authorities announced Friday.

Robinson, according to authorities, had confessed to a family friend — or "implied that he had committed the murder" to that friend — and that person in turn had contacted the Washington County sheriff's office on Thursday. Robinson was arrested at about 10 p.m. local time.

NewsNation sources say he was on the FBI’s radar Thursday and was initially identified through facial recognition investigative methods.

It’s not clear what, if any, affiliation the suspect had with Utah Valley University. He was not a student at the university.

His family told investigators he had become "more political" recently and spoke about his dislike for Kirk.

Authorities said a bolt action rifle was found wrapped in a towel with inscriptions on the casings. Ammunition found at the scene had been inscribed, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. The messages on the casing included: "What's this;" "Oh, Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao, Ciao;" "If you read this, you are gay, LMAO;" and "Hey fascist, catch!," Cox told reporters.

Cox, a Republican, called Kirk's killing an “attack on the American experiment,” and he urged a new generation to “choose a different path.”

Robinson is believed to have acted alone, and the investigation is ongoing, Cox said.

News of the arrest came hours after the FBI and state officials had pleaded for public help by releasing additional photographs of the suspect, a move that seemed to indicate that law enforcement was uncertain of the person's whereabouts.

Kirk was killed by a single shot in what police said was a targeted attack and Cox called a political assassination. Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organization Turning Point USA, based in Arizona.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.