Authorities have recovered Tyler Robinson's DNA from items left at the scene of the murder of far-right influencer Charlie Kirk, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced yesterday that Robinson is not cooperating with the investigation.
Tyler Robinson's (22) DNA was found on two objects: a towel in which the murder weapon was wrapped and a screwdriver. It is not immediately clear what the screwdriver was used for.
"I can announce today that the DNA on the towel and the screwdriver match the suspect currently in custody," FBI Director Kash Patel said in an interview with Fox News.
There's also talk of a note the suspect left before the murder. The note reportedly read:"I have a chance to take out Charlie Kirk, and I'm going to take it." Patel confirms the note's existence and says the FBI has evidence of it, but also indicates that the note has since been destroyed.
Meanwhile, Patel is under fire for his response to Kirk's murder. A few hours after the assassination, he was seen at a restaurant and later sharply criticized local authorities in Utah for their handling of the case. Local police complained of a lack of cooperation. Patel will soon appear before several committees in the Senate and House of Representatives to explain his actions.
The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Robinson refuses to cooperate with investigation
The motive for shooting Kirk—a prominent conservative activist and influencer—is currently under investigation. Robinson is refusing to make any statements, Governor Spencer Cox reports. He has not yet confessed.
Cox previously said that the suspect was"clearly indoctrinated by a left-wing ideology." This information is based on statements from friends and family, he clarified today in interviews with various media outlets.
Although the governor emphasizes that"there is still much to learn," he said."We are interviewing all kinds of people, everyone who knows him, and trying to find out more about the motive."
Robinson was arrested Friday, 33 hours after Kirk's murder on Wednesday. The 22-year-old suspect is described as a bright but shy young man with few friends who spent a lot of time online.
Plea for unity
One of those people is Robinson's roommate. Cox confirms media reports that the two were in a relationship and that the man is"in transition from male to female." Whether this is relevant to the investigation is currently unclear, according to the governor. Charlie Kirk was an outspoken opponent of trans rights.
In the aftermath of Kirk's killing, Cox, a Republican, has repeatedly pleaded for unity and restraint.
