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Federal investigators have linked 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to the crime through DNA evidence and a troubling note uncovered during their inquiry.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Monday that Robinson’s DNA was identified on both a screwdriver and a towel that was wrapped around the suspected murder weapon.
“I can report today that the DNA hits from the towel that was wrapped around the firearm and the DNA on the screwdriver are positively processed for the suspect in custody,” Patel stated during an interview on Fox & Friends.
Robinson, who has declined to speak with law enforcement, is currently being held under “special watch” in Utah. Authorities reported that he fled the scene after allegedly killing Kirk, 31, at Utah Valley University by jumping from a rooftop and running through a wooded area into a nearby neighborhood, where he abandoned the towel-wrapped firearm.
A disturbing note purportedly linked to Robinson was also found during the investigation. Federal agents believe it may reveal his political motives and could suggest the involvement of others who may have aided or failed to report the attack.
Officials in Utah noted that Robinson had developed a strong leftist ideology prior to the alleged murder of Kirk. Investigators also retrieved bullets inscribed with messages that align with left-wing critiques of conservatives, including one that referred to Kirk as a “fascist.”
Following Patel’s announcement, Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and the FBI’s deputy director, indicated that agents are thoroughly investigating Robinson’s network.
“If this was a larger effort, [if] there was any aiding and abetting … whether it be someone who knew the specifics and failed to report that … we are looking into that,” Bongino remarked. “We have a lot of technical capabilities. … We’ll also be dropping a lot of paper, a lot of subpoenas out there to take a look to see if there was any extended network.”
Bongino emphasized that investigators are analyzing Robinson’s online presence and communications for insights into his ideological motivations and any potential coordination. Concerns had been raised by several individuals close to Robinson prior to the shooting. Additionally, posts reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon indicated that some online users had predicted the shooting day, though it remains unconfirmed whether any of these accounts had knowledge of assassination plans.
“There were people in his network, friends and family, who had stated that he had become more political,” Bongino said. “Some of his coworkers had indicated that he had distanced himself when political discussions arose … leading us to believe that this ideology had infected him and taken over.”
Despite backlash over Patel’s earlier social media post claiming a suspect was already in custody, which was later retracted, Bongino defended the investigation’s progress and results.
TRUMP AND VANCE LEAD MOURNING AFTER CHARLIE KIRK KILLED IN UTAH
“You know what? It wasn’t perfect, but it should be,” he said. “We got our guy in 33 hours. … When everything settled down and I finally got a little bit of sleep last night, it hit me that Charlie’s not here anymore, and that was tough for everyone.”
Formal charges against Robinson are anticipated to be filed by Tuesday. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray stated that he expects these charges to align with the preliminary charges, which include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice.
