PROVO, UT – On the evening of September 11, a member of Tyler Robinson’s family reached out to a friend, who then contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Robinson reportedly confessed or suggested involvement in an incident, prompting authorities to investigate further. The information was shared with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, who reviewed surveillance footage from Utah Valley University.
The footage captured Robinson arriving on campus in a gray Dodge Challenger at approximately 8:29 a.m. on September 10. He was seen wearing a maroon T-shirt, light-colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo, and light-colored shoes. When investigators encountered Robinson in Washington County on September 12, his clothing matched the surveillance images.
A family member revealed that Robinson had grown increasingly political, mentioning a dinner conversation where Robinson expressed dislike for Charlie Kirk, who was scheduled to speak at the university. The family member also confirmed Robinson owned a gray Dodge Challenger.
Investigators spoke with Robinson’s roommate, who mentioned a joke Robinson made on Discord. The roommate allowed investigators to photograph messages, which included discussions about retrieving a rifle from a drop point and observations of the area where the rifle was left. The messages also mentioned engraving bullets, a scope, and changing outfits.
Authorities discovered a bolt-action rifle wrapped in a dark towel in a grassy area near the campus. The rifle, identified as a Mauser Model 98, had a mounted scope. Engraved casings found with the rifle included inscriptions such as “Hey, fascist!” and “Bella Ciao.”
The investigation continues as authorities piece together Robinson’s actions and intentions. The suspect’s political motivations and social media activity are under scrutiny as they work to understand the full scope of the incident.