Charlie Kirk suspect surrendered peacefully as he feared being shot by police, sheriff says

SPANISH FORK, UTAH: Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was afraid of being shot by police and ultimately agreed to a peaceful surrender with the help of his family, a sheriff in Utah said.

Robinson was "truly fearful of being shot by law enforcement," as well as fearful of a SWAT team hit on his house, Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby said on Wednesday, September 17, during a brief news conference.

Phone call that led to Tyler Robinson's arrest

Nate Brooksby also recounted how a friend and former deputy called him on September 11, the day after Tyler Robinson allegedly shot and killed Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in Utah County, to tell him who the Turning Point USA founder's alleged shooter was.

During the press conference, Brooksby described the phone call he had with his friend, the events that led to Robinson's arrest, and how his department, along with Robinson's family, convinced the suspect to surrender. The sheriff also dispelled certain false reports that had been spreading online.

"I received a call from a friend of mine who happens to be a retired detective that worked for me for many years. He said, 'Hey, I know who Charlie Kirk's shooter is. I know the family through religious association and he's in Washington County now, and we're working on trying to get him to come in voluntarily.'"

Brooksby said he then called the Utah County Sheriff to alert the lead investigators. "He was shocked as I was to hear the news," he said. Their brief call lasted 40 seconds.

Conditions set for Tyler Robinson's safe arrest

The sheriff said Tyler Robinson knew it was "just inevitable" that he was going to get caught after his pictures and the gun he allegedly used were reported in the news.

Brooksby noted Robinson agreed to come in only under conditions that avoided a heavily armed raid.

"He didn't want a big SWAT team hitting his parents' house or his apartment. He was truly fearful of being shot by law enforcement," Brooksby said.

"So the conditions were as relaxed and comfortable and almost to the point of inviting. And if at the end of the day we accomplish him surrendering peacefully on his own, I'm going to make some concessions to make that happen," he added.

Robinson was driven by the retired detective and his parents to the Washington County Sheriff's Office shortly before 9 pm on September 11, Brooksby said.

He was greeted by plainclothes detectives and placed in a secure interview room, and given water while authorities waited for state and federal investigators to arrive.

"He was sitting on a very comfortable couch with a water bottle in his hand, not restrained," Brooksby recalled, describing Robinson's demeanor as "quiet and sober."

Tyler Robinson's family’s role and online misinformation

Nate Brooksby credited his former colleague for using community ties to defuse a tense situation.

"He deserves whole credit," the sheriff said. "Tyler's family trusted this individual. They knew he was involved in law enforcement at some point and enough community involvement there that they trusted that we could facilitate a peaceful, calm, relaxed surrender."

The retired law enforcement agent allegedly said Robinson expressed "suicidal ideations," but his parents talked him down and said they would "help him surrender peacefully."

Less than a minute after the call, Brooksby said he dialed Sheriff Mike Smith in Utah County, where the shooting occurred and the manhunt was raging, to alert him of the rapidly evolving situation. 

Addressing a few allegations that spread on social media, the sheriff said Robinson's father was not the former police officer who turned in the suspect, adding that his friend had received threats because of those false social media posts.