Murder often produces a moment of political consensus - but this time it's differentpublished at 22:15 BST 12 September

22:15 BST 12 September

Sarah Smith
North America editor

Atrocities like the murder of Charlie Kirk often produce a moment of political consensus as people from opposing sides of the debate unite to condemn violence and call for calm.

But across America, expressions of grief and shock are competing for attention with incendiary rhetoric from Kirk’s fans and foes.

People who disagreed with him are openly celebrating his death online and suggesting he deserved to be killed.

On the right, there are calls for vengeance and a harsh crackdown on left-wing activists.

In an address from the Oval Office, President Trump blamed the news media and the "radical left" for "demonising those with whom you disagree".

Governor Spencer Cox of Utah warned today that political violence "metastasizes" and the country needs to "find an off ramp or its going to get much much worse".

Opinion polls suggest that America's appetite for political violence has grown in recent years, with increasing numbers of people saying it can be justified.

After a spate of recent murders and violent political attacks – including two attempts on Donald Trump’s life last year – there is widespread concern that this could be a dangerous moment in America.

Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation, Hayden Padgett, says he "couldn't believe more" in Utah Governor Spencer Cox's words.

The governor took a moment to address young people during the news conference with the FBI earlier. He said:

"Your generation has an opportunity to build a culture that is very different than what we're suffering through right now. Not by pretending differences don't matter, but by embracing our differences and having those hard conversations."

Padgett tells the BBC: "The only way we heal in this country and get better and make things move forward is if we are more like Charlie, and do more of what he was doing that very day."

John Ringer
Broadcast journalist, reporting from Washington DC

"There's nothing more un-American than hating our fellow Americans."

Those were the words of Utah's Republican Governor, Spencer Cox. Not today, but last week.

I was on the dais at the National Press Club, watching him speak alongside Maryland's Democratic Governor, Wes Moore.

The topic? Choosing dialogue over division. It’s familiar ground for Spencer Cox - he’s been asking Americans to do that for years.

He’s run TV ads, made speeches, held conferences - all with the tagline, "Disagree Better", external.

Image source, Getty Images

Politically, the conservative Cox and the liberal Moore are poles apart, but last Thursday they showed a friendship that’s hard to fake.

“We're both dads, we're both husbands, we both love college football… we have great hair,” joked the very bald Utahn, as the equally bald Moore laughed along.

They offered a vision of hope. “I really like this guy,” said Cox. “And I don't have to tear him down because we disagree on abortion or… on something else.”

Less than a week later, the most high-profile political assassination in recent US history took place in Cox's own backyard - the latest evidence, it seems, of the toxicity and division he warned about.

On Friday, under the glare of the national spotlight, Cox could only repeat his plea.

“At some point, we have to find an off-ramp... or it’s going to get much, much worse..."

Image source, Reuters

We heard earlier that Tyler Robinson’s roommate showed authorities messages the 22-year-old allegedly sent using the Discord social media platform.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said investigators reviewed the messages, which described leaving a rifle in a bush wrapped in a towel – matching the weapon that authorities recovered in a wooded area near the scene of the shooting.

A Discord spokesperson has now confirmed the platform has been able to identify an account associated with Robinson and has removed the profile.

But Discord says it has "found no evidence that the suspect planned this incident or promoted violence on Discord".

Regan Morris
Reporting from Utah

I run into Commissioner Beau Mason of the Utah Department of Public Safety outside the crime scene cordon at Utah Valley University.

When asked for more details about Tyler Robinson’s movements between here and his family’s home in southern Utah, Mason says they are writing and executing search warrants to “put the puzzle together”.

Mason, who was appointed in June, doesn’t give details of where they plan to search but says we’ll probably hear the results on Tuesday, when the Utah County Attorney’s Office will hold a press briefing about planned charges.

“Now that we have him in custody, the investigation doesn’t stop,” he says.

We’re still piecing together what we know about 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson - who remains in custody in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.

Robinson is the oldest of three brothers. His father owns a business installing kitchen countertops and cabinets, and his mother is a licensed social worker.

The Robinson family is of Mormon faith and active in the church.

A neighbour tells the BBC’s US partner CBS News: “They are very supportive parents who loved their boys and involved in the community.”

The neighbour also sensed he had different politics than his parents.

According to the Utah System of Higher Education, Robinson is a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship programme at Dixie Technical College.

He briefly attended Utah State University for one semester in 2021 and received concurrent enrolment credit through Utah Tech University while in high school.

Utah state records show Robinson registered to vote as unaffiliated, and his registration status is listed as inactive.

Image source, Getty Images

As we reported earlier, law enforcement has found markings on ammunition inside the rifle recovered into this case, including an up, right, and three down arrows.

It appears these arrows are linked to video gaming.

The arrow symbols match the input needed to use a stratagem in the video game Helldivers 2.

That stratagem, Eagle 500kg Bomb, external, is considered one of the most destructive special moves in the game.

The game, which won two Bafta awards earlier this year, was a smash hit. Set in a satirical universe inspired by the 1990s sci-fi film Starship Troopers, players can team up with friends or strangers to kill big insects and robots.

Notably, the theme of the game includes some political references. On its Steam page, there is a description which says:

"Freedom. Peace. Democracy.

"Your Super Earth-born rights.

"The key pillars of our civilisation.

"Of our very existence.

"But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.

"Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live."

We can bring you more details on Tyler Robinson's arrest from the booking sheet obtained by CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

Robinson is due to be charged with the following:

• Aggravated murder
• Obstruction of justice - Capital/First degree felony conduct
• Felony discharge of firearm - Causing serious bodily injury

As we previously reported, the Utah county attorney's office plans to formally file charges on Tuesday.

With Tyler Robinson in custody, more details are emerging about the lead-up to his arrest.

As we've already reported, Robinson's father recognised his son when the FBI released pictures of the suspect on Thursday.

According to the BBC's US partner CBS News, sources say Robinson admitted to his father that he was the person in the photos.

Robinson's father told his son he should hand himself in. But Robinson said he would rather take his own life.

The father than called a youth pastor, who is close to Tyler Robinson and his family. The pastor, and Tyler's father, tried to calm him down.

The pastor called the US Marshals. The Marshals then detained Robinson, who kept him secure until the FBI came and took the 22-year-old into custody.

We're now getting more information about the suspect, Tyler Robinson.

He was a third-year student in an electrical apprenticeship programme at Dixie Technical College in south-west Utah, where he lived, a spokesperson for Utah Valley University (UVU) tells the BBC.

The college is one of 16 Utah System of Higher Education institutions - UVU is also a member of that system.

Robinson briefly attended Utah State University for one semester in 2021 and received college credit through Utah Tech University while in high school from 2019 to 2021, the spokesperson adds.

He was not a student at Utah Valley University, where the shooting took place.

Although Tyler Robinson is in custody, and is due to be charged on Tuesday, the investigation into Charlie Kirk's shooting is not over.

We're now seeing pictures of several Washington City police officers and Washington County sheriff's deputies outside a residence associated with Tyler Robinson in the south-west Utah city where he lived.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

The conservative group that Kirk founded as an 18-year-old in 2012, Turning Point USA, has thanked law enforcement for arresting the suspect, Tyler Robinson.

"We are profoundly grateful to the men and women of law enforcement who worked with such urgency, dedication, and courage to bring this person to justice," the group says.

"Their commitment has brought an important step toward closure in this incredibly painful time."

A new episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, the 31-year-old's hugely popular daily podcast, is being shown without its host.

Instead, Kirk's collaborators and friends are broadcasting next to an empty chair.

Producer Andrew Kolvet introduced the programme, saying it was something "none of us ever dreamed we'd have to do".

"Charlie would want us to be here," Kolvet said. "And we of course have left his chair open and empty because nobody will ever fill it."

Image source, Andrew Kolvet / X

As we've reported, Tyler Robinson was arrested after confessing to his father - his father then reached out to a family friend, a clergy member, who told authorities.

We earlier spoke to Chris Piehota, a retired FBI executive assistant director. He says it's a "common occurrence" for people close to a suspect to convince them to turn themselves in.

Piehota says it's common because of the "potential consequences of being hunted down and cornered by law enforcement" which could "result in injury or death for certain people".

"The family members can persuade the person to turn themselves in based upon... an attack of conscience or self-preservation to protect themselves from being taken from their loved ones in a violent manner."

As we've just reported, charges against Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk, will be filed on Tuesday.

Here’s what we know about him so far:

• Robinson is 22, from Washington County in south-west Utah
• He was not a student at Utah Valley University, where the shooting took place

• Robinson's father helped turn him in after he confessed to him, following the FBI releasing images on Thursday

• His father reached out to a family friend - a member of the clergy - who then contacted a sheriff

• Robinson had become "more political" in recent years and said he "didn’t like" Kirk or his views, a member of his family told investigators

• He was arrested at 22:00 local time last night and taken into custody in Washington County, about three hours away from the university

• Markings found on bullets described by authorities indicate the suspect was steeped in online culture
• On one unused casing was the inscription: "Hey fascist! Catch!"

Update 19 September: This post has been amended to make clear that the bullet markings were described by authorities, who did not release images. A reference to the markings indicating a link to Antifa or the anti-fascist movement has also been removed.

Charges against Tyler Robinson will be filed on Tuesday 16 September, according to a statement from the Utah County Attorney's Office, via CBS News.

Orem, the site of the shooting, is located is in that county.

The office is "carefully reviewing all the evidence in this case to determine the appropriate charges to file".

The county attorney Jeff Gray will also hold a news conference in conjunction with the filing of charges.

Jake Horton
BBC Verify

Tyler Robinson's name was circulating online before today's announcement was made - and the team at BBC Verify were searching for social media accounts which could be linked to him.

We found a Facebook profile for someone we thought was his mother - they share the same surname, live in the same area, and had posted a lot of pictures of someone who looks very much like Tyler Robinson.

We subsequently found that some of the images gave a 99.5% or more match when put through facial recognition software, alongside the mugshot of Tyler Robinson released by officials.

One of the photos on the Facebook account shows him holding up a certificate from Pine View Middle School in the city of St George in southern Utah. Another was taken at Utah State University in Logan in northern Utah. Officials later confirmed he studied at both.

Image source, Facebook

The photo at the university shows Tyler Robinson holding up a document in front of a sign outside one the engineering buildings there from 2021 - suggesting he may have studied in that department.

Image source, Facebook

In another video posted on the Facebook profile, he is seen reading from a letter, saying: "Congratulations you have been selected to receive the resident presidential scholarship from Utah State University. The value of this scholarship is approximately $32,000. This scholarship is available for four years or eight semesters."

The university has confirmed that he went there for one semester in 2021, but wouldn't confirm what he studied or why he left early when asked by BBC Verify.

We have more details about how Robinson was turned in to law enforcement.

Two law enforcement sources tell CBS News, the BBC's US partner, Tyler Robinson's father relayed his son's confession to a clergy member - the family friend we heard about earlier.

That clergy member took the tip to the US Marshals Service, and then Robinson was detained.

Earlier in the morning, President Trump told Fox News that a "minister" was involved in helping authorities detain Robinson.

It is unclear what religion or denomination the clergy person is affiliated with.

Christal Hayes
Reporting from Utah Valley University

Students here at Utah Valley University are feeling a sense of relief after officials announced the suspect they believe killed Kirk has been arrested.

The campus has been in a standstill since Wednesday afternoon - with yellow police tape and police vehicles blocking much of the school.

Classes were cancelled and many students have been telling me that they’ve been trying to stay close to home due to the manhunt.

For McKinley Shinkle, the news - while helping him and other students move forward - also made his stomach drop.

"He was apprehended in Washington County, which is where I’m from," the freshman tells me. "I just feel deeply ashamed."

Many students had been theorising that perhaps the suspect wasn’t from here - as both this area and the state as a whole is a conservative stronghold.

"I’m definitely relieved," McKinley's cousin Anthony told me. "I’m just anxious now to hear his motives and why this happened."

The pair made signs that they waved at passing cars near the entrance of campus, calling Kirk a hero and saying they aren’t afraid.

They said the messages are directed at the killer and anyone else who has celebrated Kirk’s killing.

"I don't know if I could describe Charlie Kirk as a martyr, but I know for me, personally, he was a martyr," Anthony told me, adding this was the first political effort he or his cousin had ever been involved in - but it certainly won’t be the last.

BBC Visual Journalism Team

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson was arrested in Washington County, south of Salt Lake City. Kirk was shot in Orem, near the centre of the state. You can see the locations of these communities below.

After launching aircraft, receiving hundreds of leads, and releasing footage of the suspect, investigators took Robinson into custody at 22:00 last night. In an earlier post, we broke down the lead up to Robinson's arrest - one dubbed a "historic process" by the FBI's director.

Before Robinson was arrested, officials deduced that the shooter had fired his gun from a roof on campus, before climbing off and running away. A weapon was located by authorities in a nearby wooded area.