FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk sent a chilling message that may shed light on his alleged motive.
On Wednesday (September 10), Kirk was killed while speaking at a Turning Point USA debate at Utah Valley University before a crowd of around 3,000.
According to videos taken at the scene, he was responding to a question about gun violence when the fatal shot was fired at about 12:20PM.
"Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?" one audience member asked, to which Kirk replied: "Too many."
The person then said there had been five in 10 years and asked the Trump ally how many mass shooters there had been in that time. "Counting or not counting gang violence?" was Kirk's reply. Then a single shot rang out.
Videos from the scene show the 31-year-old collapsing in his chair with blood pouring from the wound as the crowd began to scatter in panic.
Just over a day later, the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody after reportedly being handed in to police by a "close" family member.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Robinson sent an unsettling message shortly before the shooting.
“[W]hat was found, in terms of information, a text message exchange where the suspect [Robinson], specifically stated that he had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and he was going to do that,” Patel said on Hannity Monday night.
When asked why, Robinson allegedly responded: “Some hatred cannot be negotiated with.”
Patel also said that Robinson “essentially admitted” to the killing in witness interviews conducted after the September 10 attack.
“We’re dedicating every asset we have to run the reverse daisy chain analysis of anyone that was in contact with the suspect that’s currently in custody and anyone he contacted, called, and text messaged, and had chats on online social media platforms with,” he shared.
“We seized multiple electronic devices from the home of the suspect and his romantic partner,” Patel continued. “We’ve got computers, we’ve got laptops, gaming systems, we’ve got cellphones.”
He concluded: “All of that is being triaged by the FBI, because that’s what we do,” he added. “And the resources that the attorney general has dedicated to this mission is allowing us to move at the speed we have.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said DNA evidence from the firearm used in the shooting matched Robinson and praised the rapid coordination between federal and local agencies.
“They worked hand in hand,” she said, per The New York Post. “It was great police work.”
Prosecutors are expected to formally indict Robinson this week, and Bondi confirmed that the death penalty is on the table as Utah allows capital punishment by firing squad.
“Then we as federal prosecutors will look to see if we have federal charges as well … and of course, if we do, we will also indict and work hand in hand with the state to ensure that this horrible human being faces the maximum extent of the law,” Bondi added.
Robinson is currently being held without bail and is set to appear in court on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed that Robinson was in a romantic relationship with his roommate, who is reportedly transgender.
“The roommate was a romantic partner,” Cox said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “We can confirm that that roommate is a boyfriend who is transitioning from male to female.”
Cox said the partner has been “incredibly cooperative” and had “no idea that this was happening,” while Robinson himself has refused to cooperate.
A neighbor told The Sun that he saw the pair holding hands in the weeks leading up to the shooting, and described Robinson as “weird,” adding: “I would have tried to stop him if I knew what was about to happen.”
Cox also revealed that Robinson grew up in a conservative household but held opposing political views. “He was full of hate and spreading hate,” the governor said, citing conversations with the suspect’s family. “He talked about why he didn’t like [Kirk] and the viewpoints that he had.”
The investigation remains ongoing.