Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, confessed to friends in a private Discord chat hours before his arrest, according to The Washington Post.
“Hey guys, I have bad news for you all,” read the message sent from an account identified as the suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, as quoted by The Washington Post.
According to the report, screenshots shared by members of the chat showed Robinson admitting to killing Kirk. “It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all of this,” he wrote on Thursday night.
The message ended with Robinson thanking his online friends “for all the good times and laughs” and was sent about two hours before his arrest.
Discord said it gave a copy of the message to authorities and is cooperating with the FBI and investigators by providing details of Robinson’s online activity, reported The Washington Post.
Robinson was arrested on Thursday after a 33-hour manhunt. Video from the event showed Kirk being struck in the neck while addressing thousands of students at an outdoor gathering of Turning Point USA, the conservative youth group he co-founded.
SUSPECT WROTE NOTE THREATENING KIRK: KASH PATEL
FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators had gathered additional evidence showing Robinson’s intent to kill Kirk. Appearing on Fox News’ Fox & Friends, Patel confirmed that Robinson sent a text message to another person before the shooting, stating he planned to assassinate Kirk.
Patel also said investigators believe Robinson wrote a note declaring he had the “opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk.” Although the note was destroyed, Patel said forensic analysis and witness interviews confirmed its existence and contents.
Authorities have not revealed who received Robinson’s text or whether anyone saw the destroyed note before the killing.
Patel added that Robinson’s DNA was found on a towel wrapped around the rifle believed to have been used in the shooting. His DNA was also recovered from a screwdriver on the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired.
Robinson is expected to be formally charged no later than Tuesday, when he is scheduled to make an initial court appearance. He remains in custody in a Utah jail.
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With inputs from agnecies