Charlie Kirk’s Assassination: Killer Apprehended

By Philip C. Johnson – September 12, 2025
NOTE: This article has been updated. The original article was released at 2:05 AM on September 12th.  This new edition, released at 10:25 AM on September 12th, contains information on the apprehension of the assassin. 

On September 10, conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck by a sniper during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The shot, fired at 12:20 p.m. from roughly 200 yards, silenced Kirk mid-debate on free speech before 3,000 students. Kirk was debating a student on mass shootings and transgender issues, defending his view that people should embrace the bodies God gave them and rejecting the notion of changing one’s sex, when the sniper’s bullet struck.

An intensive manhunt for the killer followed the assassination, with FBI Director Kash Patel promising full resources. The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson, was apprehended at 9:30 a.m. CDT on September 12, 2025, after being turned in by his father, a 27-year veteran of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, following a confession. Robinson, described as “radicalized” with ties to extreme left-leaning online communities, viewed Kirk as a “fascist” and targeted him due to ideological revenge over Kirk’s conservative stances. The FBI had initially offered a $100,000 reward and released rooftop video of a hooded suspect in dark clothing fleeing into nearby woods, recovering the rifle, footprints, and forearm impressions.

Conspiracy Theories Angles
Prior to the arrest of Tyler Robinson, conspiracy theories exploded online, with some on X baselessly linking Kirk’s death to Ukraine, claiming foreign-backed hit squads targeted him for opposing U.S. aid to Kyiv. Others point to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s suspiciously early condolence post—20 minutes before U.S. reports—fueling speculation of Mossad involvement tied to Kirk’s push for Epstein file transparency. These claims, unsupported by evidence, highlight a broader wave of hatred on X, where some progressive voices gloat over Kirk’s death, calling it “karma” for his views, while conservatives rally with #JusticeForCharlie, decrying a “leftist conspiracy.” The vitriol reveals a deeply fractured discourse, amplifying the stakes of Kirk’s loss.

A Polarized Response
Online reactions from some on the left are chilling. Transgender Team USA BMX cyclist Chelsea Wolfe reportedly posted an Instagram story with a news report of Kirk’s death, captioned “We did it!” In Oregon, Cornelius city council member John Colgan allegedly wrote on Facebook that Kirk’s death “really brightened up my day.” The Lee County School District is investigating teachers who celebrated Kirk’s death online, while two Massachusetts school staffers are on leave for “controversial” posts mocking or celebrating the assassination.

Conservatives worldwide mourned Kirk’s loss. Vigils at U.S. embassies in Madrid, Berlin, Warsaw, and Budapest saw flowers and candles honoring his defense of free speech and resistance to “woke censorship.” Italy’s Giorgia Meloni called the killing a “blow to democracy”; UK’s Keir Starmer and EU’s Roberta Metsola expressed shock. In Strasbourg, EU Parliament chaos erupted when Sweden Democrat MEP Charlie Weimers requested a minute’s silence for Kirk, calling him a “devoted father, patriot” and condemning political violence. President Metsola rejected the request, citing procedural rules, and Vice-President Katarina Barley (SPD) cut Weimers off, prompting ECR members to slam desks and shout “Shut up!” as leftists applauded, mocking the “fascist” tribute. Hungary’s András László decried the “hypocrisy,” noting the EU’s 2020 moment of silence for George Floyd.

A Voice for Truth
Matt Walsh’s September 11 podcast was a raw, poignant tribute. He spoke of Kirk’s life, love for his family, and desire to see America flourish. Walsh, emotion thick in his voice, said, “And now he’s gone. We’ve seen him die right in front of our eyes, on stage. He died while trying to have a free and civil debate, which is all that he ever did…and for that, they killed him. They’re killing us in our churches. They tried to kill our president. They killed Charlie, one of our greatest advocates.”

“And now,” Walsh continued, “it is time for justice. This is a time for good to fight back against evil. It is time for the righteous to prevail for the sake of our country, and our families and our children. And for Charlie.”

In a counterintuitive yet piercing statement, Walsh added, “May we all be so successful and productive that our enemies celebrate when we die. May we all be so devastating to the leftist project that they long for our demise. May our lives be a problem for these people and our deaths a relief…But you can’t kill the truth.”

He closed his brief broadcast with, “You finished your race, Charlie, you fought the good fight, you kept the faith. And now we’ll take it from here and we won’t give up until the work is done and you can rest in peace knowing that.”

“We’ll take it from here…” I hope those words echo in the hearts of every person who cares about truth, reality, freedom, faith, and the future of this world. For certainly in the fight between good and evil, we will need people who will “take it from here.”