Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, returned to Utah Valley University hours after the shooting and encountered a police officer near where the murder weapon was later recovered, according to law enforcement.
Kirk was fatally shot in the neck at 12:23 p.m. local time during a speaking event in Orem, Utah, prompting a campus lockdown and a rapid law enforcement response.
Authorities responded swiftly to the shooting, securing the Utah Valley University campus and launching an intensive manhunt for Robinson.
Local police, assisted by state and federal agencies, established perimeters around key areas and deployed K-9 units to track his movements.
Officers also coordinated with campus security to ensure students and staff were safely evacuated, while aerial and ground searches scoured the surrounding neighborhoods.
The rapid, multi-agency response was critical in piecing together Robinson’s path and preventing further incidents.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason confirmed to Fox News that the 22-year-old circled back that evening and spoke with an officer stationed near the woods where investigators later found a Mauser .30-06 rifle wrapped in a towel.
Details of the encounter remain part of the ongoing investigation.
According to released documents, Robinson texted his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, about retrieving the rifle.
“I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down,” he allegedly wrote.
In other messages, Robinson expressed regret for not collecting the weapon sooner.
“I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle,” he allegedly texted Twiggs, adding he feared his father’s reaction if he failed to return the family rifle.
Investigators also uncovered a note beneath Robinson’s keyboard reading, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.”
Authorities say Twiggs cooperated fully with them in providing the note and messages.
Robinson faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder, reckless discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice for hiding the weapon and discarding clothing, two counts of witness tampering and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.
He is also accused of trying to cover his tracks by instructing Twiggs to delete incriminating messages and stay silent.
Authorities tracked Robinson’s movements after the shooting, noting stops at local businesses and restaurants.
Surveillance footage and witness accounts helped investigators reconstruct his path through Orem.
After more than 33 hours on the run, Robinson returned to his hometown in southern Utah and surrendered when his parents and a family friend persuaded him not to take his own life.
In one revealing exchange, Twiggs asked Robinson, “You weren’t the one who did it right????”
Robinson allegedly replied, “I am, I’m sorry,” and said authorities had initially detained the wrong individuals.
“They grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing,” he reportedly wrote.
Authorities say the combination of digital evidence, forensic analysis and witness accounts forms a strong case linking Robinson to Kirk’s murder.
Investigators continue to review security footage, phone records and other evidence to reconstruct the events of that day and confirm the sequence of actions.
Officials emphasize that the investigation remains active, with additional details expected to emerge as the case moves through the legal system.
