The day after Charlie Kirk was gunned down in Utah, the man accused of killing him appeared in an online group chat, joking that someone was trying to get him in trouble. Hours later, he allegedly confessed to the crime before surrendering to authorities.
The FBI had just released two grainy surveillance images of a skinny young man in a baseball cap and sunglasses walking inside a stairwell at Utah Valley University. Investigators were asking the public to help identify the suspect, The New York Times reported.
In a Discord chat, an acquaintance who tagged Tyler Robinson’s username attached the images and wrote “wya” — where you at? — with a skull emoji. The post suggested Robinson, 22, looked like the man being sought in the assassination.
Robinson replied within a minute. His “doppelganger,” he wrote, was trying to “get me in trouble.”
Another user quickly followed: “Tyler killed Charlie!!!!” The message appeared to be in jest. But it was not until later that night, nearly 34 hours after the shooting, that Robinson was arrested on suspicion of murdering Charlie Kirk, 31, the conservative commentator and activist.
The Discord messages offered the clearest glimpse yet of the suspect’s demeanor in the hours after the killing. They were shared with The New York Times by someone who knew Robinson in high school and remains connected through the chat group, which has about 20 members. The person, who asked not to be identified, said he feared harassment for being linked to the suspect. The Times verified the individual had attended high school with Robinson and confirmed other details.
But Robinson’s online activity did not stop with the joking response. Later that next day, in a separate Discord chat, the suspect allegedly admitted to being the shooter and apologized to his friends, The Washington Post reported.
“Hey guys, I have bad news for you all,” Robinson wrote, according to screenshots reviewed by The Washington Post. “It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all of this.”
“I’m surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments. Thanks for all the good times and laughs, you’ve all been so amazing, thank you all for everything.”
The messages were sent Thursday evening, about two hours before law enforcement finally took Robinson into custody, ending a 33-hour manhunt.
Screenshots reviewed by The Post show how members of Robinson’s private Discord group reacted in real time to news of Kirk’s assassination. The group included roughly 30 people.
“Charlie Kirk got shot,” one user wrote the afternoon of the killing.
“I just saw the video holy s—,” another responded about 90 minutes later. “Bro didn’t deserve to go out like that sad.”
Robinson’s account remained silent until the following day, when he posted the message beginning with, “I have bad news.”
A spokesperson for Discord confirmed the company turned over the suspect’s messages to the FBI and local law enforcement. The platform also said its own internal review found “no evidence that the suspect planned this incident or promoted violence on Discord.”
The chats provide a rare window into Robinson’s behavior during the critical period between the shooting and his arrest. They also highlight how quickly digital platforms become part of criminal investigations.
Authorities say Robinson’s motive remains under investigation. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said initial findings suggest the suspect held a “leftist ideology” and had been critical of Kirk in the past. He also confirmed Robinson was in a “romantic relationship” with a transgender partner who is cooperating with investigators.
Kirk’s assassination shocked the political world and set off a wave of outrage across the country. As investigators dig deeper into Robinson’s background, the Discord messages have become a key part of understanding the suspect’s state of mind in the hours after the killing.