How Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson’s roommate helped FBI with Discord messages about rifle and assassination plan

Investigators probing the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk uncovered crucial evidence with the help of the suspect’s roommate, Utah officials revealed Friday. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that Tyler Robinson’s roommate showed law enforcement officers messages on Discord that Robinson had sent in the days leading up to the attack at Utah Valley University.

“The roommate opened Discord and allowed investigators to take photos of the screen as each message was shown,” Cox explained at a press briefing. “The content of these included messages affiliated with the contact Tyler, stating a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush, messages related to visually watching the area where a rifle was left, and a message referring to having left the rifle wrapped in a towel.”

Cox added that additional Discord exchanges referenced engraving bullets, a rifle scope, and the weapon being “unique.” Robinson also allegedly messaged that he had changed outfits, indicating attempts to disguise his movements.

Who is Tyler Robinson?

The suspect, now identified as Tyler Robinson, is being held without bail in a Utah jail on several preliminary charges, including aggravated murder. Robinson is a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College, part of the Utah System of Higher Education. According to a spokesperson, he grew up in Washington, Utah, just a few miles from the school and about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Utah Valley University, where the attack occurred.

Education records show Robinson briefly attended Utah State University in 2021 and previously earned college credit through Utah Tech University while in high school between 2019 and 2021.

The Discord messages appear to align with evidence already recovered by investigators, including a Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle discovered wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the university. Authorities believe this was the weapon used in the September 10 shooting, which left Kirk fatally wounded during a Turning Point USA event.

Officials said the roommate’s cooperation gave investigators additional leads to corroborate Robinson’s alleged planning and concealment efforts. The FBI continues to seek tips from the public as forensic testing of the rifle and ammunition proceeds.