DNA on a towel wrapped around a rifle found near where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated matched that of the 22-year-old accused in the killing, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Monday.
Investigators also have used DNA evidence to link the suspect, Tyler Robinson, with a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired, Patel told Fox News.
Kash Patel speaks at a news conference. (Photo: AP)
Authorities blame leftist ideology
Authorities in Utah are preparing to file capital murder charges against Robinson as early as Tuesday in the killing of Kirk, a prominent figure in conservative politics who became a confidant of President Donald Trump.
Kirk was shot on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University during one of his many campus stops.
The suspect, Robinson, was arrested within 36 hours of one of the most shocking political assassinations in recent US history, after his family turned him in.
Officials have said Robinson carried a hatred for Kirk and ascribed to a “leftist ideology” that had grown in recent years. Robinson’s family and friends said he spent large amounts of time scrolling the “dark corners of the internet.”
Federal law enforcement officials stand outside the family home of Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Turning Point USA CEO and co-founder Charlie Kirk. (Photo: AP)
Suspect not cooperating with investigation
Patel told Fox News that Robinson had written in a note before the shooting that he had an opportunity to take out Kirk and was going to do it. Investigators were able to recover the note’s contents after it had been destroyed, the FBI director said, paraphrasing from the note without revealing more details.
Authorities said Robinson has not been cooperating with law enforcement. They say that he may have been “radicalised” online and that ammunition found in the gun used to kill Kirk included anti-fascist and meme-culture language engravings.
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Why did Robinson kill Kirk?
Though Patel, Cox and others have blamed radicalisation and ‘leftist ideology’, the authorities have not been able to identify what motivated Robinson to open fire at Kirk.
While both his parents are registered Republicans, state records show Robinson is registered to vote but is not affiliated with a political party and is listed as inactive, meaning he did not vote in the two most recent general elections.
Robinson became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church, at a young age, church spokesperson Doug Andersen said.
A neighbor of the suspect’s family said Robinson was smart, quiet and never caused any problems. (Photo: Facebook)
Charges against Robinson
Authorities aim to bring formal charges this week against Robinson, who was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder and other felony offenses.
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Prosecutors are drawing up formal charges that could be filed as early as Tuesday, when he will make his first court appearance. Authorities have said the crimes in Kirk’s death include aggravated murder, obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm.
