Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist, founder of Turning Point USA, and prominent right-wing influencer, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, during a public speaking event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah.
The incident, described by Utah Governor Spencer Cox as a "political assassination," involved a single gunshot from a rooftop, leading to a rapid but intense manhunt. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a Utah resident and former UVU student, was arrested less than 36 hours later—specifically around 33 hours after the shooting—following tips from family and friends, surveillance footage, and public assistance. Authorities recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle believed to be the murder weapon in a wooded area near the campus, along with inscribed bullet casings and a footprint.
Here is a detailed chronological timeline based on official statements, surveillance details, and news reports.
September 10, 2025 (Day of the Shooting)
- 8:29 a.m. MT: Surveillance footage captures the suspect, Tyler Robinson, arriving on the UVU campus in a gray Dodge Challenger. This vehicle later helps identify him as a former student.
- 11:52 a.m. MT: The suspect enters the campus on foot and proceeds through stairwells to the roof of a nearby building (the Losee Center, approximately 430 feet from the event site). He is described as wearing dark clothing, including a black long-sleeve shirt with an American flag design, jeans, sunglasses, a dark hat, and Converse sneakers—details that match later-released images of the "person of interest."
- Noon MT: Kirk begins his "Prove Me Wrong" debate event in an outdoor courtyard at UVU, attended by about 3,000 people. The free, open-air discussion invites students to challenge his views on politics and culture. Kirk's wife, Erika, and their two young children are present in the audience.
- 12:03 p.m. MT (approx.): Seconds before the shot, Kirk's official TikTok account posts a video of him starting the event, panning briefly over the rooftop area (though the shooter is not visible).
- 12:23 p.m. MT: While answering an audience question about mass shootings in the U.S. (Kirk had just replied, "Counting or not counting gang violence?" to a query about the number of mass shooters in the past decade), Kirk is struck by a single gunshot to the neck from the rooftop. Graphic videos captured by attendees show him clutching his neck, slumping over, and collapsing as blood pours from the wound. Onlookers duck and flee in panic. The shot is fired from a high-powered bolt-action rifle, leaving palm impressions on the roof edge as the shooter climbs down.
- Immediately after (12:23–12:30 p.m. MT): The suspect is seen on surveillance video running across the rooftop, jumping off the edge, dropping to the ground, and fleeing the campus into a nearby neighborhood. He changes clothes twice during his escape to evade detection.
- 12:42 p.m. MT: UVU issues an emergency alert about the active shooter situation and locks down the campus.
- 12:53 p.m. MT: FBI Director Kash Patel confirms the FBI is assisting local authorities in the investigation. Kirk is rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital but is pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
- Afternoon/Evening: Two individuals are briefly detained for questioning but released after being cleared. A vigil forms outside the hospital. President Donald Trump calls it a "heinous assassination" and praises Kirk as a "giant of his generation." Vice President JD Vance, a personal friend of Kirk, expresses grief on social media. The FBI announces a $100,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest. Over 7,000 tips flood in nationwide.
September 11, 2025 (Manhunt Intensifies)
- Early Morning (approx. 12 hours post-shooting): No suspects in custody. Authorities confirm the attack was targeted, with one shot fired amid a large crowd, suggesting precision. They describe the shooter as "college-aged" and blending into the campus environment. A man is arrested near the crime scene for trespassing (entering taped-off area to take photos) but is unrelated.
- 9:00 a.m. MT: Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) Commissioner Beau Mason holds a press conference, releasing initial images from campus security footage of the "person of interest" in a stairwell. Mason details the shooter's path: arriving on campus, accessing the roof via stairwells, firing from a "shooting location," and fleeing. DPS urges the public for tips, videos, or photos, emphasizing it's a national matter.
- Morning/Afternoon: Investigators recover the rifle in a wooded area near campus, along with a footprint. Three unfired casings with inscriptions (later linked to Robinson) are found. U.S. Marshals join the FBI and Utah officials in the search. Governor Cox states Utah is preparing affidavits for the death penalty. The campus remains closed until September 14.
- Evening (approx. 7:45 p.m. MT): Air Force Two lands at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport carrying Kirk's casket, escorted by Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, and Kirk's widow Erika. This marks Kirk's final return to his Arizona home.
- 7:59 p.m. MT: The FBI releases additional video footage of the suspect fleeing the rooftop and running away. High-definition images of the person of interest (showing the man in the stairwell) are shared publicly to aid identification. Officials note the suspect left palm impressions while climbing down. The release "supercharges" the investigation, leading to quick breakthroughs.
September 12, 2025 (Arrest and Aftermath)
- 8:00 p.m. MT (Sept. 11, continuing into early Sept. 12): The public release of the escape video and images prompts immediate action. A family member (believed to be Robinson's father, a veteran sheriff's deputy) views the footage and recognizes him. Robinson had reportedly confessed or implied involvement to relatives and a family friend via messages. A tense meeting involving a pastor and the family leads to the tip-off.
- 10:00 p.m. MT (Sept. 11): Robinson is arrested in southern Utah without incident. A family friend contacts authorities, stating Robinson "confessed to them or implied that he committed the incident." Investigators link him via his vehicle, clothing, Discord group chat messages (recounting a note he left, though not planning violence on the platform itself), and the inscribed casings. The arrest occurs about 33–36 hours after the shooting, hailed by Patel as "historic progress."
- Morning (approx. 9:00 a.m. MT): Governor Cox and officials confirm the arrest at a press conference, identifying Robinson publicly. He is charged with first- and second-degree murder and held without bail. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown states "everything is on the table," including the death penalty, as requested by President Trump. No motive details are released, but the attack is confirmed as targeted. Robinson's first court appearance is scheduled for September 16.
- Afternoon/Evening: Erika Kirk vows to continue Turning Point USA events in her husband's honor. A Secret Service agent is placed on leave for negative social media posts about Kirk. Discord clarifies that referenced messages were not from their platform but from the suspect's roommate recounting a note. Social media sees misinformation, including false videos and memes misidentifying the shooter (e.g., recycled footage from a July 2025 Reno incident or comedian Sam Hyde).
Ongoing Developments (as of September 13, 2025)
The investigation continues, with affidavits for the death penalty in preparation. Robinson's background shows no prior record, and authorities are probing potential connections to Kirk (none confirmed). UVU remains closed. Tributes pour in from conservatives, with Trump and Vance highlighting Kirk's role in the 2024 election and administration staffing. Misinformation on platforms like X and Bluesky (e.g., celebratory posts or false shooter identities) leads to content moderation debates. The case underscores U.S. political polarization, with calls for reduced violence from figures like former Vice President Kamala Harris.
This timeline is compiled from official statements by the FBI, Utah DPS, Governor Cox, and corroborated reports. The swift arrest was aided by advanced surveillance, public tips, and family intervention, preventing a prolonged manhunt.