WASHINGTON — As tens of thousands gather to mourn Charlie Kirk at a massive memorial service in Arizona, prosecutors in Utah are building a case against the man they say assassinated the Republican activist while he was speaking at an event at Utah Valley University earlier this month. 

Here’s what we know about the shooting, and the man charged with his murder.

Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, was shot Wednesday, Sept. 10, while at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The popular conservative political activist and media personality was at his first stop since resuming his “American Comeback Tour.” 

Video from the event showed Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent. A single shot rang out and the 31-year-old was seen reaching for his neck with his right hand as spectators gasped and screamed before running away.

Despite two people being taken into custody within hours after the shooting, officials said both were eventually released and cleared.

Details trickled out over the next two days as a search unfolded for the gunman, who law enforcement officials said shot Kirk from atop a nearby building before fleeing into a neighborhood near the school.

On Friday, Sept. 12, after a two-day manhunt, law enforcement officials identified a suspect in custody as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who had been taken into custody hours before. 

“We got him,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said during a press conference. 

Robinson was reportedly turned in by members of his family and a family friend, who arranged for him to be taken into custody by law enforcement officials, Cox said. 

Robinson appeared quiet and somber when he arrived with his parents to turn himself in last Thursday at the Washington County Sheriff’s office, a day after Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University, said Sheriff Nate Brooksby.

“He didn’t want a big SWAT team at his parent’s house or his apartment,” said the sheriff, who was only involved with the surrender and not the broader investigation. “He was truly fearful about being shot by law enforcement.”

According to investigators, a family member of Robinson said he had become more political in recent years. 

Robinson was admitted to Utah State University on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a video of him reading his acceptance letter posted to a family member’s social media account. A university spokesperson says he attended for only one semester in 2021.

Robinson attended Dixie Technical College in Southern Utah, where he was a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program. The program trains people to be electricians, lighting technicians or electrical repair specialists.

Robinson was registered to vote, but was not affiliated with a political party. He was also listed as inactive, meaning he had not voted in at least the last two general elections.

Robinson has two younger brothers and his parents have been married for about 25 years, according to his mother’s social media posts. The family lives in a suburb of the city of St. George in southern Utah, about a 3.5 hour drive south of the Utah Valley University campus where Kirk was shot.

Utah’s governor said bullets found with the rifle Robinson allegedly used to kill Kirk were engraved with messages. Many of those messages have their roots in popular internet culture and memes. 

Investigators say that after Robinson fired the single fatal shot, he texted his romantic partner and said to look under a keyboard for a note.

“I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” it said according to court documents.

After expressing shock, his partner who lived with Robinson, asked if he was the shooter. Robinson responded, “I am, I’m sorry.”

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said DNA on the trigger of the rifle used to kill Kirk matched Robinson.

On Tuesday, prosecutors charged the 22-year-old Robinson with capital murder and announced they will seek the death penalty.

The full list of charges against Robinson can be read here.