The suspect arrested in connection with the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday has been identified as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old man from Utah.

“We got him,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters Friday morning as he announced the news. He said that a family member reached out to a family friend, who told authorities Robinson confessed or implied that he was responsible. The family member said Robinson had become increasingly political and had mentioned at a recent family dinner that Kirk would be speaking at Utah Valley University.

The suspected gunman is believed to have acted alone, Cox said.

Investigators described the extensive evidence they found, including social media posts, that tied the suspect to the shooting that unfolded on Wednesday. Kirk, 31, was speaking to a crowd of around 3,000 people when he was fatally shot.

The manhunt for the shooter that ensued took several twists and turns in the hours following the shooting. Two people were taken into custody on Wednesday, but both were later released.

On day two of the search, investigators said they had received thousands of tips related to the shooting, but that they needed more help from the public. The FBI had offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person.

Kirk’s body was transported to Arizona, where Kirk lived with his family, on Air Force Two on Thursday afternoon. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both said they plan to attend Kirk’s funeral, which is expected to be held next weekend.

How the suspect’s family helped authorities catch him

At the beginning of the press conference, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox explained in detail how a family member of the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing helped law enforcement nab him:

“On the evening of Sept. 11, a family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed [the killing]. This information was relayed to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office and scene investigators at Utah Valley University. This information was also conveyed to the FBI.”

At that point, Cox said, authorities had surveillance footage showing the suspect’s gray Dodge Challenger arriving on the school’s campus hours before the shooting.

“Investigators interviewed a family member of Robinson who stated that Robinson had become more political in recent years. The family member referenced a recent incident in which Robinson came to dinner prior to Sept. 10, and in the conversation with another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU. They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had. The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and was spreading hate. The family member also confirmed Robinson had a gray Dodge Challenger.”

Cox did not reveal the relation of the family member to Robinson nor the identity of the family friend. In an appearance on Fox & Friends earlier Friday, President Trump suggested that the family friend was a minister who was “involved with law enforcement,” and that the suspect’s father “got involved” and said, “We got to go in.”

Utah governor urges young people to embrace differences — and resist ‘rage’

In his remarks at the press conference, Cox implored young people to embrace political differences without resorting to violence.

“You are inheriting a country where politics feels like rage. It feels like rage is the only option,” Cox said. “We can choose a different path. Your generation has an opportunity to build a culture that is very different than what we are suffering through right now, not by pretending differences don’t matter, but by embracing those differences.”

“I hear all the time that words are violence,” the governor continued. “Words are not violence. Violence is violence.”

“That’s the problem with political violence, it metastasizes,” he added. “At some point, we have to find an off-ramp, or it’s going to get much, much worse.”

Inscriptions on 4 bullet casings found near shooter’s rifle, investigators say

Investigators said they found four bullet casings engraved with messages on them near the bolt-action rifle they uncovered in a wooded area near campus, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said.

The inscription on a fired casing read, “Notices bulges OWO what’s this?” authorities said.

There were three unfired casings. One said, “Hey fascist! Catch!” and was paired with an “up arrow symbol, a right arrow symbol and three down arrow symbols,” Cox said.

Another unfired casing read, according to authorities, “Oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao,” and the third one said, “If you read this you are gay lmao.”

Suspect is believed to have acted alone, Utah governor says

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the suspect accused of killing Charlie Kirk is believed to have acted alone.

Tyler Robinson was booked into the Utah County jail. No other arrests are expected, Cox said.

Authorities release mug shot of shooting suspect

Authorities on Friday released the mug shot of the man suspected of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, who they identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.

Investigators release details from suspect’s alleged Discord messages

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that the suspected shooter’s roommate told investigators that the alleged gunman had “made a joke on Discord,” an instant messaging social platform that was originally created for video game players.

The roommate showed investigators the Discord conversation, Cox said, adding that one of the contacts involved was named “Tyler.”

Cox said the Discord included “messages affiliated with the contact ‘Tyler,’ stating a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush,” and “messages related to a — to visually watching the area where a rifle was left and a message referring to having left the rifle wrapped up in a towel.”

More messages from the contact named “Tyler” had “referred to engraving bullets and a mention of a scope and the rifle being unique,” and said “he had changed outfits.”

Utah governor: ‘Political violence is different than any other type of violence’

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox condemned what he called Charlie Kirk’s “political assassination,” but said that “it is also much bigger than an attack on an individual.”

“It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment. It is an attack on our ideals,” Cox said. “Political violence is different than any other type of violence.”

The governor said that he felt as angry as he’s ever felt following Kirk’s death but sought comfort in the way the conservative activist handled his detractors.

“Young people loved Charlie, and young people hated Charlie,” Cox said. “And Charlie went into those places anyway.”

Cox then read numerous quotes from Kirk.

“He said, ‘Always forgive your enemies — nothing annoys them so much.”

FBI Director Kash Patel defends handling of case: ‘We delivered’

At the press conference, FBI Director Kash Patel said the suspect was taken into custody at 10 p.m. local time on Thursday.

“This is what happens when you let good cops be cops,” Patel said. “In 33 hours, we have made historic progress for Charlie.”

Patel expressed his gratitude to President Trump and the White House for their support.

He said the public had a right to demand “an expeditious” capture.

“The FBI answered that call,” Patel said. “We delivered.”