Transcription
THIS IS A CBS NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. I'M GAYLE KING HERE IN NEW YORK. OFFICIALS IN UTAH ARE ABOUT TO HOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE ON THE CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION. THIS MORNING, PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THAT HE IS VERY CERTAIN THAT THE SUSPECT IN WEDNESDAY'S KILLING IS UNDER ARREST. HE ALSO SAID THAT SOMEONE CLOSE TO THE SUSPECT TURNED HIM IN. AS SOON AS THEY HAVE THAT NEWS CONFERENCE, WE WILL TAKE IT IMMEDIATELY LIVE. BUT FOR NOW, LET'S GO RIGHT TO CARTER EVANS, WHO IS IN UTAH. CARTER, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD?
WELL, GAYLE, WE ARE EXPECTING THIS NEWS CONFERENCE TO START ANY MINUTE NOW. I'M WATCHING OFF CAMERA HERE TO SEE WHEN AUTHORITIES START WALKING IN. BUT HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW. CBS NEWS HAS CONFIRMED THROUGH MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT SOURCES, THAT THE NAME OF THE SUSPECT IS TYLER ROBINSON. HE IS 22 YEARS OLD. SO COLLEGE AGE, JUST LIKE AUTHORITIES HAD SAID WHEN THEY FOUND THAT PICTURE AND FIRST RELEASED THAT PICTURE YESTERDAY, WE DID GET SOME CLEARER PICTURES YESTERDAY THAT THEY HAD ENHANCED OF THIS INDIVIDUAL. AND WE'RE TOLD THAT HE CONFESSED TO HIS FATHER. HE LIVES IN SOUTHERN UTAH, AND THAT'S WHERE HE CONFESSED TO HIS FATHER AND WAS APPARENTLY TURNED IN TO U.S. MARSHALS. THAT IS THE LATEST AS FAR AS DETAILS ABOUT HOW THIS ALL WENT DOWN, WHAT HE HAS SAID TO AUTHORITIES ABOUT WHAT OCCURRED. HAS HE CONFESSED TO THEM? WE'RE HOPING TO FIND THAT OUT WHEN THIS NEWS CONFERENCE BEGINS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. WE DO KNOW THAT THEY HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF VIDEO OF THIS INDIVIDUAL. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT OUT TO THE PUBLIC. THEY HAD 7000 TIPS COME IN ON THE TIP LINE THAT THEY WERE FOLLOWING UP ON, BUT IN THE END, IT APPEARS THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL TURNED HIMSELF IN WITH HIS FATHER.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S TURN NOW TO SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT WEIJIA JIANG AND ANNA SCHECTER, WHO IS CBS NEWS SENIOR COORDINATING PRODUCER FOR CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY. GOOD MORNING GUYS. YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY WHEN WE SAW THEY RELEASED A LOT OF INFORMATION, WE SAW HIS PICTURE. WE SAW HIS ESCAPE. AND WHEN I WHEN I WENT TO BED LAST NIGHT, I SAID, NOW IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. SURELY. WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, I SAID, NOW WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING. SO I WAS SURPRISED THAT IT WAS TAKING SO LONG SINCE THE PICTURE WAS SO CLEAR AND I KEPT THINKING, FAMILY MEMBERS, SOMEBODY KNOWS THIS GUY, SOMEBODY SPEAK UP.
WELL, YOU KNOW, LAST NIGHT WE HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN UTAH. THE FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL WAS STANDING WITH THEM. THEY RELEASED NEW IMAGES, BUT THEY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT COMING CLOSE TO HAVING A SUSPECT IN CUSTODY. AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THIS MORNING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP, NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, BUT THE PRESIDENT BROKE THE NEWS THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED, HE SAID THERE WAS A HIGH DEGREE OF CERTAINTY THAT THE SUSPECT WAS IN CUSTODY. MULTIPLE SOURCES TELL CBS NEWS THAT THE PERSON THEY HAVE HAS A STRONG RESEMBLANCE TO ALL THOSE IMAGES THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING, AND THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY WENT ON TO REVEAL SOME OF THOSE DETAILS THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM CARTER. HE SAID THAT IT WAS A MINISTER WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PERSON, WHO RECOGNIZED HIM. AND THEN THIS MINISTER INFORMED THE U.S. MARSHAL'S OFFICE. AND SOMEHOW AFTER THAT, THE FAMILY BECAME INVOLVED AND THE FATHER CONVINCED HIS SON, THE SHOOTER, TO TURN HIMSELF IN. THAT'S ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. BUT OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE STILL SO MANY QUESTIONS.
YEAH, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM POLICE. I WOULD IMAGINE. AND EVERYBODY'S GOOGLING TYLER BECAUSE HIS NAME HAS BEEN RELEASED. EVERYONE'S GOOGLING THE NAME TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PERSON. WE SEE THEY'RE ENTERING THE ROOM NOW AND STAND BY FOR JUST A SECOND.
AT TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE, WE WILL HEAR FROM GOVERNOR. WE WILL HEAR FROM GOVERNOR COX, FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL AND SHERIFF MIKE SMITH. WE ALSO HAVE WITH US UTAH DPS COMMISSIONER BEAU MASON, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DEIDRE HENDERSON, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE ROBERT BOLES, AND LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS. FOLLOWING THE REMARKS TODAY, GOVERNOR COX, DIRECTOR PATEL AND COMMISSIONER MASON WILL TAKE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WE GOT HIM ON THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 11th. A FAMILY MEMBER OF TYLER ROBINSON REACHED OUT TO A FAMILY FRIEND WHO CONTACTED THE WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH INFORMATION THAT ROBINSON HAD CONFESSED TO THEM OR IMPLIED THAT HE HAD COMMITTED THE INCIDENT. THIS INFORMATION WAS RELAYED TO THE UTAH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SCENE INVESTIGATORS AT UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY. THIS INFORMATION WAS ALSO CONVEYED TO THE FBI INVESTIGATORS REVIEWED ADDITIONAL VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM UVU SURVEILLANCE AND IDENTIFIED ROBINSON ARRIVING ON UVU CAMPUS IN A GRAY DODGE CHALLENGER AT APPROXIMATELY 8:29 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 10th, IN WHICH HE IS OBSERVED ON VIDEO IN A PLAIN MAROON T SHIRT, LIGHT COLORED SHORTS, A BLACK HAT WITH A WHITE LOGO, AND LIGHT COLORED SHOES. WHEN ENCOUNTERED IN PERSON BY INVESTIGATORS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY ON SEPTEMBER 12th. IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, ROBINSON WAS OBSERVED IN CONSISTENT CLOTHING WITH THOSE SURVEILLANCE IMAGES. INVESTIGATORS INTERVIEWED A FAMILY MEMBER OF ROBINSON WHO STATED THAT ROBINSON HAD BECOME MORE POLITICAL IN RECENT YEARS. THE FAMILY MEMBER REFERENCED A RECENT INCIDENT IN WHICH ROBINSON CAME TO DINNER PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 10th, AND IN A CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER, ROBINSON MENTIONED CHARLIE KIRK WAS COMING TO UVU. THEY TALKED ABOUT WHY THEY DIDN'T LIKE HIM AND THE VIEWPOINTS THAT HE HAD. THE FAMILY MEMBER ALSO STATED KIRK WAS FULL OF HATE AND SPREADING HATE. THE FAMILY MEMBER ALSO CONFIRMED ROBINSON HAD A GRAY DODGE CHALLENGER. INVESTIGATORS IDENTIFIED AN INDIVIDUAL AS THE ROOMMATE OF ROBINSON. INVESTIGATORS INTERVIEWED THAT ROOMMATE, WHO STATED THAT HIS ROOMMATE, REFERRING TO ROBINSON, MADE A JOKE ON DISCORD. INVESTIGATORS ASKED IF HE WOULD SHOW THEM THE MESSAGES ON DISCORD. HE OPENED IT AND SHOWED SEVERAL MESSAGES TO INVESTIGATORS AND ALLOWED INVESTIGATORS TO TAKE PHOTOS OF THE SCREEN. AS EACH MESSAGE WAS SHOWN BY ROBINSON'S ROOMMATE. THESE PHOTOS CONSISTED OF VARIOUS MESSAGES, INCLUDING CONTENT OF MESSAGES BETWEEN THE PHONE CONTACT NAME, TYLER WITH AN EMOJI ICON, AND ROBINSON'S ROOMMATES DEVICE. THE CONTENT OF THESE MESSAGES INCLUDED MESSAGES AFFILIATED WITH THE CONTACT TYLER, STATING A NEED TO RETRIEVE A RIFLE FROM A DROP POINT, LEAVING THE RIFLE IN A BUSH. MESSAGES RELATED TO A TO VISUALLY WATCHING THE AREA WHERE A RIFLE WAS LEFT, AND A MESSAGE REFERRING TO HAVING LEFT THE RIFLE WRAPPED IN A TOWEL. THE MESSAGE IS ALSO REFER TO ENGRAVING BULLETS AND A MENTION OF A SCOPE, AND THE RIFLE BEING UNIQUE. MESSAGES FROM THE CONTACT. TYLER ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE HAD CHANGED OUTFITS I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION AS WELL AS TO THE THE WRITING ON THOSE CASINGS. THOSE, THOSE THOSE BULLET CASINGS, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE THAT AS WELL. AND I WILL SHARE THAT WITH YOU NOW. SO THE AREA NORTH OF CAMPUS DRIVE ROAD, WHERE THE SUSPECT CROSSED OVER, YOU SAW SOME OF THAT IN THE VIDEO THAT WE RELEASED LAST NIGHT CONSIST OF A GRASSY AREA WITH TREES ON THE EDGE OF THE UVU CAMPUS. INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED A BOLT ACTION RIFLE WRAPPED IN A DARK COLORED TOWEL. THE RIFLE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A MAUSER MODEL 98 3006, CALIBER, 3006 CALIBER BOLT ACTION RIFLE. THE RIFLE HAD A SCOPE MOUNTED ON TOP OF IT. INVESTIGATORS NOTED INSCRIPTIONS THAT HAD BEEN ENGRAVED ON CASINGS FOUND WITH THE RIFLE. INSCRIPTIONS ON A FIRED CASING READ NOTICES BULGES, CAPITAL O W O. WHAT'S THIS QUESTION MARK? INSCRIPTIONS ON THE THREE UNFIRED CASINGS READ. HEY, FASCIST! EXCLAMATION POINT! CATCH! EXCLAMATION POINT UP ARROW SYMBOL, RIGHT ARROW AND SYMBOL AND THREE DOWN ARROW SYMBOLS. A SECOND UNFIRED CASING READ OH BELLA, CIAO BELLA, CIAO BELLA, CIAO, CIAO CIAO. AND A THIRD UNFIRED CASING READ. IF YOU READ THIS, YOU ARE GAY LMAO. WE ARE INDEBTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE STATE WHO HAS WORKED SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS WITH THE WITH THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE WHO WORKED TOGETHER IN IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO TO FIND THIS PERSON AND TO AND TO BRING JUSTICE. I WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC WHO HAS BEEN SO ENGAGED REVIEWING, REVIEWING VIDEOS, HELPING US WITH SENDING IN TIPS, AND HELPING US GET TO THIS POINT. I WANT TO THANK THE THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF TYLER ROBINSON WHO DID THE RIGHT THING IN THIS CASE AND WERE ABLE TO TO BRING HIM INTO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE FAMILY OF CHARLIE KIRK ERICA, CHARLIE'S PARENTS, HIS CHILDREN. I WANT US TO BE THINKING OF THEM AS WE BRING JUSTICE IN THIS CASE. THEY WILL BE INVOLVED IN THAT JUSTICE. WE WILL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS WELL. THIS IS A VERY SAD DAY FOR AGAIN, FOR OUR COUNTRY, A TERRIBLE DAY FOR THE STATE OF UTAH. BUT I'M GRATEFUL THAT AT THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING CLOSURE TO THIS VERY DARK CHAPTER IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY WITH THAT, I WILL NOW TURN THE TURN THE MICROPHONE OVER TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, KASH PATEL THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET GOOD COPS BE COPS. THE FBI AND OUR PARTNERS ARE PROUD TO STAND HERE TODAY TOGETHER TO BRING JUSTICE TO THE FAMILY OF CHARLIE KIRK AND HONOR HIS MEMORY. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE VICE PRESIDENT, AND THE ENTIRE WHITE HOUSE WHO HAVE BEEN SO INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE WITH BOTH RESOURCES AND JUST PERSONALLY TO THE FBI AS A TEAM. THEY HAD OUR BACKS THE ENTIRE WAY. AND I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR GIVING US THE RESOURCES WE NEED TO OPERATE IN THIS SPACE TO BRING THIS SORT OF JUSTICE AT THIS SORT OF SPEED. IN 33 HOURS, WE HAVE MADE HISTORIC PROGRESS FOR CHARLIE. GOVERNOR COX, OUR PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. THESE LAST FEW DAYS. OUR PARTNERSHIP WILL ENDURE. YOUR STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS, YOUR SHERIFFS, YOUR DPS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLY IMPRESSIVE IN THE HARDEST OF TIMES. IN A CASE LIKE THIS CANNOT BE SOLVED, CANNOT BE BROUGHT WITHOUT PARTNERING WITH YOUR STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES. THE FBI HAS A CERTAIN ROLE TO PLAY, AND WE WILL PLAY THAT ROLE, AND WE WILL LEAD OUT FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT, GOVERNOR COX, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR STATE PARTNERSHIP THAT LED OUT ON THIS INVESTIGATION. A LITTLE BIT OF THE TIMELINE. CHARLIE WAS SHOT AT 12:23 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY. THE FIRST FBI AGENTS ARRIVED ON SCENE IN 16 MINUTES WITH CHIEFS OF POLICE AT 1239 AND SECURED THE SCENE. THE FBI IMMEDIATELY LAUNCHED FIXED WING ASSETS. WE UTILIZE THESE ASSETS TO TRANSPORT PERSONNEL, SPECIALTY TECHNICIANS, HOSTAGE RESCUE TEAMS. WE ALSO UTILIZE THESE ASSETS TO GO BACK AND FORTH FROM THE EAST COAST AND HERE IN UTAH TO TRANSPORT FORENSIC EVIDENCE AND OTHER EVIDENCE THAT WILL BE ANALYZED AND IS BEING ANALYZED AT OUR FBI LABORATORY IN QUANTICO AND OTHER LABORATORIES, INCLUDING THE ATF. AT MY DIRECTION, THE FBI RELEASED THE FIRST SET OF FBI PHOTOS OF THE SUSPECT AT 10 A.M. LOCAL TIME ON 9/11. THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE FBI REWARD OF $100,000 WAS RELEASED AT 10:45 A.M. LOCAL, MYSELF AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR BONGINO ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 P.M. ON 9/11. THE GOVERNOR LED A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST NIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 8 P.M., WHERE, AT MY DIRECTION, THE FBI RELEASED A NEVER BEFORE SEEN VIDEO OF THE SUSPECT. WE ALSO RELEASED NEW IMAGES TO THE PUBLIC OF THE SUSPECT. AND JUST LAST NIGHT, THE SUSPECT WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AT 10 P.M. LOCAL TIME IN LESS THAN 36 HOURS, 33, TO BE PRECISE. THANKS TO THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LEADING OUT WITH THE PARTNERS HERE IN THE STATE OF UTAH AND GOVERNOR COX. THE SUSPECT WAS APPREHENDED IN HISTORIC TIME PERIOD. AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT GOVERNOR COX SAID. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU, THE MEDIA, AND YOU THE PUBLIC. THAT'S WHY WE WENT SO PUBLIC SO FAST. AND WE'RE SO TRANSPARENT AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT TRANSPARENCY. THE CRIME SCENE JUST A LITTLE BIT THERE. IT IS A LARGE CRIME SCENE. STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES, ALONG WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES, PROCESSED THAT CRIME SCENE QUICKLY. AND I EVEN HAD THE. ABILITY TO WALK THROUGH THAT CRIME SCENE AND WALK THROUGH THE STEPS. THE SUSPECT TOOK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS NEEDED AND WHAT RESOURCES WE NEEDED TO BEAR TO CREATE A FULL PICTURE FOR THE FBI AND LEADERSHIP. BACK IN WASHINGTON. FURTHERMORE, THANKFULLY, TO STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS, FORENSIC EVIDENCE HAS BEEN SEIZED AND CONTINUES TO BE GARNERED. FORENSIC EVIDENCE HAS ALREADY BEEN EVALUATED. FBI LABORATORY IN QUANTICO AND STATE LOCAL AUTHORITIES HERE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROCESS EVIDENCE AS WE SEE IT, AS WE COLLECT IT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER TO GOVERNOR COX AND HIS TEAM. LAST NIGHT, WE HAD A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 7000 INTERVIEWS. EXCUSE ME, 7000 LEADS AS OF THIS MORNING, THANKS TO YOUR GREAT WORK, WE HAVE OVER 11,000 LEADS THAT WERE CALLED IN TO THE FBI. AND WE ARE RUNNING OUT EVERY SINGLE LEAD THAT WE CAN, EVERY ONE OF THOSE LEADS WILL BE RUN OUT. THE ARREST IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION OF GOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT BEING GREAT AND PARTNERSHIPS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH I'VE TRIED TO HIGHLIGHT AS MY TENURE AT THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI. THERE IS NO BETTER RELATIONSHIP FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAN THE FBI TO PARTNER WITH STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES. AND YOU'VE SEEN IT HERE IN THESE LAST FEW DAYS. THE FBI, SALT LAKE FIELD OFFICE, ALONG WITH OUR OFFICES IN L.A., PHOENIX, DENVER, SAN ANTONIO, LAS VEGAS, PITTSBURGH, BUFFALO, OUR HEADQUARTERS COMPONENT IN QUANTICO, ALL PARTICIPATED IN THE FBI. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FBI, THE MEN AND WOMEN, THE EVIDENCE RESPONSE TEAM TACTICIANS, THE SPECIAL OPERATORS, THE AGENTS, THE SUPPORT STAFF. YOU HAVE DONE MONUMENTAL WORK IN HISTORIC TIME. WHEN THE PUBLIC WHO HAD A RIGHT TO DEMAND SUCH AN EXPEDITIOUS SOLVING OF AN INVESTIGATION, THE FBI ANSWERED THAT CALL DILIGENTLY, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR NATION. AND WE DELIVERED. AND I'M PROUD TO BE THEIR LEADER. AND I'M PROUD TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI. THIS IS A VERY MUCH AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION, AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO DEVELOP THE INVESTIGATION, TO PROVIDE THEM THE EVIDENCE THEY NEED FOR THEIR ONGOING PROSECUTIONS. AND WE WILL BE HERE TO ANSWER EVERY CALL THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE, AS LONG AS IT TAKES, FOR AS LONG AS WE NEED TO FIND AND APPREHEND WHATEVER SUSPECTS WERE INVOLVED IN THIS CRIME. LASTLY TO MY FRIEND CHARLIE KIRK REST NOW BROTHER. WE HAVE THE WATCH AND I'LL SEE YOU IN VALHALLA.
THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES AS AS THE SHERIFF TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR EVERYBODY WHO HAS PLAYED A PART IN THIS INVESTIGATION. AS YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A VAST, COMPLICATED AND A VERY, VERY FAST PACED INVESTIGATION. YOU'RE LOOKING AT PEOPLE STANDING UP HERE WHO ARE RUNNING ON IF THEY GOT AN HOUR OF SLEEP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, THEY'RE PROBABLY LUCKY IT HAS BEEN VERY TAXING. IT HAS BEEN SO IMPRESSIVE. SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SEE THE COOPERATION THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THIS TYPE OF CASE ACROSS THE STATE, SHERIFFS CHIEFS, OUR OUR STATE PARTNERS HAVE STEPPED UP AND HAVE COME TO THE CALL ON ANYTHING THAT WE NEEDED. OUR COUNTY CHIEFS HAVE BEEN PHENOMENAL. OUR UTAH COUNTY ATTORNEY, JEFF GRAY, WHO'S STANDING UP HERE WITH US, HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL IN LEADING US THROUGH THIS INVESTIGATION. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR FOR THEIR RESOURCE SOURCES, THEIR ASSETS, OUR LOCAL TEAM HERE, OUR FBI TEAM HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY IN HELPING US WORK THROUGH THIS AND BRING THIS PERSON TO JUSTICE MOST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PUBLIC AND SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PUBLIC WHO TURNED TO PRAYERS AND WHO TURNED TO POSITIVENESS FOR US. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM ON BEHALF OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE NEEDED THOSE PRAYERS. THAT'S WHAT WE NEEDED TO GET THROUGH THIS. WE NEEDED YOUR SUPPORT AND YOU GAVE IT TO US. WE NEEDED YOUR PATIENCE AND YOU GAVE IT TO US. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE KIRK FAMILY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED IS YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR PRAYERS, AND THAT WILL GET US THROUGH ALL OF THIS. SO THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR EVERYBODY THAT HAS STEPPED UP. WE'VE HAD SUCH A PHENOMENAL RESPONSE TO THIS. THANK YOU.
THANKS.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE IS SHOWN TRUE HERE AND WITHOUT AG BONDI AND DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD BLANCH AND THE RESOURCES THEY BROUGHT TO BEAR, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETE OUR MISSION. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY SPECIAL THANKS. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR INCREDIBLE LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM WHO HAS WORKED SO HARD. SHERIFF, I GOT A SOLID 90 MINUTES LAST NIGHT, SO I'M PROBABLY THE MOST WELL-RESTED PERSON UP HERE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GET THE MICROPHONE, SO I HOPE YOU'LL PERMIT ME A MOMENT JUST TO SHARE A FEW MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND HOW WE GOT HERE. AND AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO PREACHY, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, WITH EYES WIDE OPEN, UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR OUR COUNTRY TODAY. I'VE HEARD I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WHY ARE WE WHY ARE WE SO INVESTED IN THIS? THERE'S VIOLENCE HAPPENING ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND VIOLENCE IS TRAGIC EVERYWHERE AND EVERY LIFE TAKEN IS IS A CHILD OF GOD WHO DESERVES OUR LOVE AND RESPECT AND DIGNITY. THIS IS THIS IS CERTAINLY ABOUT THE THE TRAGIC DEATH, ASSASSINATION, POLITICAL ASSASSINATION OF OF CHARLIE KIRK BUT IT IS ALSO MUCH BIGGER THAN AN ATTACK ON AN INDIVIDUAL. IT IS AN ATTACK ON ALL OF US. IT IS AN ATTACK ON THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT. IT IS AN ATTACK ON OUR IDEALS. THIS CUTS TO THE VERY FOUNDATION OF WHO WE ARE, OF WHO WE HAVE BEEN AND AND WHO WE COULD BE IN BETTER TIMES. POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER TYPE OF VIOLENCE. FOR LOTS OF DIFFERENT REASONS. ONE, BECAUSE IN THE VERY ACT THAT CHARLIE CHAMPIONED OF EXPRESSION, THAT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION THAT IS ENSHRINED IN OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS IN IN HAVING HIS LIFE TAKEN IN THAT VERY ACT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN SHARE THEIR IDEAS, THAT THEY CAN SPEAK FREELY. WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SOLVE ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE VIOLENCE. PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE ARE WORRIED ABOUT. IF WE CAN'T HAVE A CLASH OF IDEAS SAFELY AND SECURELY EVEN ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY THOSE IDEAS WITH WHICH YOU DISAGREE, THAT'S WHY THIS MATTERS. SO MUCH. OVER THE LAST 48 HOURS, I HAVE BEEN AS ANGRY AS I HAVE EVER BEEN, AS SAD AS I HAVE EVER BEEN. AND IT WAS AS AS ANGER PUSHED ME TO THE BRINK. IT WAS ACTUALLY CHARLIE'S WORDS THAT PULLED ME BACK. I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE. AND SPECIFICALLY RIGHT NOW, IF I COULD. I NEED TO TALK TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, IN MY STATE, AND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AS PRESIDENT TRUMP REMINDED ME, HE SAID, YOU KNOW WHO WHO REALLY LOVED CHARLIE? THE YOUTHS. HE'S RIGHT. YOUNG PEOPLE LOVE CHARLIE. AND YOUNG PEOPLE HATED CHARLIE AND CHARLIE WENT INTO THOSE PLACES ANYWAY. AND THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT HAVE HELPED ME, CHARLIE SAID. WHEN PEOPLE STOP TALKING, THAT'S WHEN YOU GET VIOLENCE. HE SAID THE WEAK CAN NEVER FORGIVE. FORGIVENESS IS THE ATTRIBUTE OF THE STRONG. THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE LABYRINTH OF SUFFERING IS TO FORGIVE, WELCOME, WITHOUT JUDGMENT, LOVE WITHOUT CONDITION, FORGIVE WITHOUT LIMIT, HE SAID. ALWAYS FORGIVE YOUR ENEMIES. NOTHING ANNOYS THEM SO MUCH. A FEW MONTHS AGO I REFERENCED THIS. LAST NIGHT. CHARLIE POSTED A SOCIAL MEDIA. WHEN THINGS ARE MOVING VERY FAST AND PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR MINDS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAY GROUNDED. TURN OFF YOUR PHONE, READ SCRIPTURE, SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS, AND REMEMBER, INTERNET FURY IS NOT REAL LIFE. IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY. HE AGAIN SAID. WHEN YOU STOP HAVING A HUMAN CONNECTION WITH SOMEONE, YOU DISAGREE WITH, IT BECOMES A LOT EASIER TO COMMIT VIOLENCE, HE SAID. WHAT WE AS A CULTURE HAVE TO GET BACK TO IS BEING ABLE TO HAVE A REASONABLE AGREEMENT, BEING ABLE TO HAVE REASONABLE AGREEMENT WHERE VIOLENCE IS NOT AN OPTION. NOW AGAIN, TO MY YOUNG FRIENDS OUT THERE, YOU ARE INHERITING A COUNTRY WHERE POLITICS FEELS LIKE RAGE. IT FEELS LIKE RAGE IS THE ONLY OPTION BUT THROUGH THOSE WORDS, WE HAVE A REMINDER THAT WE CAN CHOOSE A DIFFERENT PATH. YOUR GENERATION HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A CULTURE THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ARE SUFFERING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, NOT BY PRETENDING DIFFERENCES DON'T MATTER, BUT BY EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES AND HAVING THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS. I, I THINK WE NEED MORE MORAL CLARITY RIGHT NOW. I HEAR ALL THE TIME THAT WORDS ARE VIOLENCE. WORDS ARE NOT VIOLENCE. VIOLENCE IS VIOLENCE. AND THERE IS ONE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED HERE, AND THAT PERSON IS NOW IN CUSTODY AND WILL BE CHARGED SOON AND WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AND YET ALL OF US HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW UTAHNS. YOU KNOW, THIS BAD STUFF HAPPENS, AND FOR FOR 33 HOURS I WAS I WAS PRAYING THAT THAT IF THIS HAD TO HAPPEN HERE, THAT IT WOULDN'T BE ONE OF US. THAT SOMEBODY DROVE FROM ANOTHER STATE, SOMEBODY CAME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY. SADLY, THAT THAT THAT PRAYER WAS NOT ANSWERED THE WAY I HAD HOPED FOR JUST BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER ON US IF WE COULD JUST SAY, HEY, WE DON'T DO THAT HERE AND INDEED, UTAH IS A SPECIAL PLACE. WE LEAD THE NATION IN CHARITABLE GIVING. WE LEAD THE NATION IN SERVICE EVERY YEAR. BUT IT DID HAPPEN HERE. AND IT IT WAS ONE OF US BUT I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT HOW UTAHNS REACTED THE LAST TWO NIGHTS. THERE WAS NO RIOTING. THERE WAS NO LOOTING. THERE WERE NO CARS SET ON FIRE. THERE'S NO VIOLENCE. THERE WERE THERE WERE VIGILS AND PRAYERS AND PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO SHARE THE HUMANITY. AND THAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I BELIEVE, IS THE ANSWER TO THIS. WE CAN RETURN VIOLENCE WITH VIOLENCE. VIOLENCE? WE CAN RETURN HATE WITH HATE. AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH WITH POLITICAL VIOLENCE. IS IT METASTASIZES? BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS POINT THE FINGER AT THE OTHER SIDE AND AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO FIND AN OFF RAMP OR IT'S GOING TO GET MUCH, MUCH WORSE. BUT SEE, THESE ARE CHOICES THAT WE CAN MAKE HISTORY WILL DICTATE IF THIS IS A TURNING POINT FOR OUR COUNTRY BUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US GETS TO CHOOSE RIGHT NOW. IF THIS IS A TURNING POINT FOR US, WE GET TO MAKE DECISIONS. WE HAVE OUR AGENCY. AND I DESPERATELY CALL ON EVERY AMERICAN REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, CONSERVATIVE, MAGA, ALL OF US TO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE FOLLOW WHAT CHARLIE TAUGHT ME. I'LL JUST I'LL JUST CONCLUDE WITH WITH WORDS I SHARE OFTEN FROM A FRIEND AND AUTHOR, YUVAL LEVIN, WHO WAS ASKED IF HE WAS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR COUNTRY AND HE SAID, I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC. HE SAID, I HATE OPTIMISM. MY GOD, THAT SOUNDS BAD BUT BUT HE SAID HE SAID, OPTIMISM IS A VICE. IT'S THIS IDEA THAT GOOD THINGS ARE JUST GOING TO HAPPEN. AND HE SAID, IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, GOOD THINGS HAVE NEVER JUST HAPPENED. HE SAYS, I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC, BUT I AM HOPEFUL AND HOPE IS THE VIRTUE THAT SITS BETWEEN THE VICES OF OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM. HOPE IS THE IDEA THAT GOOD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE THEM SO I STILL BELIEVE IN OUR COUNTRY, AND I KNOW CHARLIE KIRK BELIEVED IN OUR COUNTRY. I STILL BELIEVE THAT THERE IS MORE GOOD AMONG US THAN EVIL. AND I STILL BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY. I'M HOPEFUL BECAUSE AMERICANS CAN MAKE IT SO. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT.
HAVE. PLEASE SPEAK TO WHETHER THE SUSPECT IS SPEAKING WITH AUTHORITIES AND HIS DEMEANOR. TYLER ROBINSON.
WE I CANNOT SPEAK TO WE CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT RIGHT.
NOW.
HOW WOULD YOU USE INTERPRET THE AGREEMENTS ON CASES?
WELL, I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU TO INTERPRET WHAT THOSE ENGRAVINGS MEAN. I THINK THE THE CLEAREST ONE THAT SAYS CATCH FASCIST. I THERE'S NOT. AND BY THE WAY, THAT'S LIKE CATCH LIKE A BALL. CATCH THIS. THAT'S I THINK THAT THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
DETAILS ON HOW YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS LEVEL OF HATRED THAT THIS PERSON EXPRESSED TO THE DINNER. BEYOND THAT, IS THERE ANYTHING IN YOUR VIEW THAT YOU DISCOVERED THAT MAY HAVE RADICALIZED OR CHANGED THE PROMPT HIM TO COMMIT SUCH A HORRIFIC.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE THAT WE CAN SHARE AT THIS TIME.
GOVERNOR.
ABOUT THE GUN. DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY MORE ARRESTS?
WE DO NOT.
WE DO NOT AT THIS TIME HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD LEAD TO ANY ADDITIONAL ARRESTS. YES, GOVERNOR. THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.
GOVERNOR HOW HE CAME INTO CUSTODY OF POLICE AND WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW.
YES. SO RIGHT NOW, MR. ROBINSON HAS BEEN BOOKED INTO THE UTAH COUNTY JAIL. YOU HEARD THE PRESIDENT THIS MORNING REPORT THAT THAT HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. THAT THAT HIS FAMILY AND AND A FRIEND HELPED TO TO DELIVER HIM IN TO THE INTO CUSTODY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW WHERE WASHINGTON COUNTY IS, IT IS THE SOUTHERN MOST SOUTHWESTERN, MOST PART OF THE STATE OF UTAH. IT'S ABOUT A THREE AND A HALF TO FOUR HOUR DRIVE FROM HERE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. AND THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WHERE HE LIVED AND WHERE HE THEY TURNED HIM IN. PLEASE GO.
HERE.
I CAN'T SHARE ANY MORE THAN WHAT I'VE ALREADY SHARED.
YEAH.
ANY DETAILS ON HOW HE GOT BACK TO WASHINGTON COUNTY AND HOW THE GUN WAS OBTAINED.
SO WE HOW WE OBTAINED THE GUN. THE GUN WAS FOUND, WAS FOUND HERE.
WAS ABLE.
TO GET IT.
SO. SO I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE DETAILS ON THAT. WE DO KNOW THAT THAT THAT HE DROVE WE HAD HIS CAR HERE ON, ON CAMPUS AND THEN AND THEN WE HAD HIS CAR GOING GOING SOUTH BACK TO BACK TO THE SAINT GEORGE. IT'S ACTUALLY THE CITY OF WASHINGTON IN IN WASHINGTON.
COUNTY. IS HE TALKING WITH AUTHORITIES?
AND DID HE DISCUSS THE VOTING?
I'M SORRY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD LEAD US TO BELIEVE THAT. YES. IN FACT, IT'S ALREADY IT WAS JUST RELEASED.
YES.
DID YOU DISCUSS IT?
WE I CAN'T I CAN'T ANSWER THAT RIGHT.
NOW. YEAH. THANK YOU. OVER HERE.
THIS IS THE.
I, I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A WATERSHED IN AMERICAN HISTORY. YES. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT KIND OF WATERSHED? AND THAT THAT CHAPTER REMAINS TO BE WRITTEN. IS THIS THE END OF A DARK CHAPTER IN OUR HISTORY OR THE BEGINNING OF A DARKER CHAPTER IN OUR HISTORY? WE HAVE. LOOK, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT TRUE POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY OF OF SOMEONE, OF THIS STATURE, THIS FEELS A LOT LIKE THE LATE 60s. AND HAVING ONE SO GRUESOMELY DISPLAYED ON CAMERA IN ALL OF OUR HANDS AND IN ALL OF OUR POCKETS. WE ARE NOT WIRED AS HUMAN BEINGS BIOLOGICALLY HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE NOT EVOLVED IN A WAY THAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF PROCESSING THOSE TYPES OF VIOLENT IMAGERY. AND BY THE WAY, WE'VE SEEN ANOTHER ONE WITH A GRUESOME STABBING VERY RECENTLY THAT WENT VIRAL. THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR US. IT IS NOT GOOD TO CONSUME. SOCIAL MEDIA IS A CANCER ON OUR SOCIETY RIGHT NOW, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE AGAIN, I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LOG OFF, TURN OFF, TOUCH GRASS, HUG A FAMILY MEMBER, GO OUT AND DO GOOD IN YOUR COMMUNITY. THERE ARE THAT IS HAPPENING AND IT'S HAPPENING ORGANICALLY RIGHT NOW AT A FRIEND IN A IN A SMALL CITY IN UTAH WHO SAID, WE'RE WE'RE GETTING TOGETHER. THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN MY LITTLE TOWN ARE GETTING TOGETHER TO HAVE A DISCUSSION TONIGHT. LAST NIGHT, JUST TO FIND A WAY TO, TO TO FIND THEIR BETTER ANGELS. SO, SO YES, THIS THIS COULD BE I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO JFK TO, TO HAVE SEEN A VIDEO LIVE OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING. I WASN'T BORN UNTIL 1975, BUT BUT I KNOW THAT THINGS WERE REALLY DARK IN THE LATE 60s. SORRY TO SOME OF YOU. I KNOW SOME OF YOU WERE THERE, BUT BUT THIS IS THE THIS IS OUR MOMENT. DO WE ESCALATE OR DO WE FIND AN OFF RAMP? AND AGAIN, IT'S A CHOICE. IT'S A CHOICE. AND EVERY ONE OF US GETS TO MAKE THAT CHOICE. TWO MORE QUESTIONS. TWO MORE QUESTIONS RIGHT HERE.
CAN WE CLARIFY THAT THE RELEASE OF THOSE ENHANCED IMAGES AT 8 P.M., THE TIMELINE THAT DIRECTOR PATEL GAVE US LED TO THE ARREST AT 10 P.M.? IS THERE A DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN THOSE TWO EVENTS?
I CANNOT COMMENT IF THERE IS A DIRECT CONNECTION OR NOT, BUT ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THAT THAT THROUGH SOME PROCESS, THE FAMILY CAME TO KNOW THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED.
ONE MORE THING, GOVERNOR. COULD YOU JUST CLARIFY THE CLOTHING ISSUE YOU MENTIONED EARLIER? WAS HE CHANGING OUTFITS?
CORRECT? YES, YES. SO SO WHEN HE FIRST SPOTTED ON CAMPUS, HE HAS DIFFERENT CLOTHING ON AND THEN HE CHANGES CLOTHING ON THE ROOF AND THEN CHANGED BACK INTO THAT CLOTHING AT SOME POINT SO THAT WHEN, WHEN HE WAS, WHEN HE WAS APPREHENDED, WHEN HE, WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED, THE CLOTHING MATCHED THE CLOTHING HE HAD ON BEFORE THE SHOOTING HERE AT UVU. LAST QUESTION HERE. YES.
SUSPECT WAS FROM. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHERE AND WHEN THESE STUDENTS WERE AT THIS UNIVERSITY? AND IS THERE ANY HISTORY OF.
YEAH. SO I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE MENTAL ILLNESS PART. HE WAS NOT A STUDENT HERE AT UVU. HE WAS LIVING AND AND HAD LIVED FOR A LONG TIME WITH HIS FAMILY IN, IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. AND SO THE MOST PART, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR FOR YOUR GREAT WORK IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT. I JUST SAY PROCESS WISE, THIS MAY BE IMPORTANT. I KNOW MANY OF YOU AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH WITH THE PROCESS IN UTAH. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT BASICALLY WE HAVE THREE DAYS FOR CHARGING DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED PSI WILL BE FILED, WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION, THEN MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AS THOSE CHARGING DOCUMENTS ARE FILED IN PREPARATION FOR A PRELIMINARY HEARING. SO THREE DAYS. SO WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THEN THAT THAT EARLY NEXT WEEK THOSE CHARGING DOCUMENTS WILL BE FILED. WE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE WORKING. THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WILL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH WITH MR. KIRK'S FAMILY AS AS THOSE DOCUMENTS AND DECISIONS ARE PREPARED AND MADE. THANKS EVERYONE.
AND AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD, AUTHORITIES HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY DO HAVE A SUSPECT IN CUSTODY FOR THE ASSASSINATION OF POLITICAL ACTIVIST CHARLIE KIRK ON WEDNESDAY. HE'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS TYLER ROBINSON. HE IS 22 YEARS OLD. HE IS A RESIDENT OF UTAH. LET'S GO TO OUR JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT, SCOTT MACFARLANE IN WASHINGTON. SCOTT, THERE WAS A LOT TO UNPACK IN THAT NEWS CONFERENCE. A LOT OF INFORMATION JUST REVEALED TO US WHAT STUCK OUT TO YOU.
GAYLE, A DAY AND A HALF MANHUNT THAT CAPTURED THE WORLD'S ATTENTION ENDED, ACCORDING TO THE INVESTIGATORS, WHEN THE DEFENDANT CONFESSED TO HIS FATHER AND HIS FATHER WENT TO CLERGY AND THEY TURNED HIM IN. THIS WAS A SELF DIRECTED TURN IN BY THE ROBINSON FAMILY. ACCORDING TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID, THERE, 11,000 TIPS CAME IN. ALL THAT VIDEO WAS RELEASED AND A COUPLE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID WHEN HE WAS ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIDEO AND ABOUT THE CASE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE INFORMATION THAT WILL LEAD TO ANY MORE ARRESTS. NOT THE MOST DECLARATIVE STATEMENT I'VE EVER HEARD. RULING OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE ARRESTS OR MORE PEOPLE BEING CONSIDERED CULPABLE IN THIS, BUT SAYING RIGHT NOW THAT THIS IS THE ONE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MURDER. THE INSCRIPTIONS ON THE CASINGS WE HEARD ABOUT THAT. YOU'LL RECALL THE MURDER OF THE UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO IN NEW YORK CITY. THESE INSCRIPTIONS, ACCORDING TO THE INVESTIGATORS, INCLUDED THE PHRASES KACH, FASCIST AND BELLA CIAO BELLA, CIAO IS A REFRAIN, A MOTTO OF THE ITALIAN RESISTANCE AGAINST FASCISTS DURING WORLD WAR II, AND ALSO GAYLE, IT'S NOTEWORTHY THAT THE GOVERNOR SAID SOCIAL MEDIA IS A CANCER GET OFF SOCIAL MEDIA. THAT HAD BEEN AN ISSUE EARLY IN THIS INVESTIGATION WHEN THE FBI DIRECTOR WAS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ANNOUNCING PEOPLE WERE IN CUSTODY. THOSE PEOPLE WOULD LATER BE RELEASED. HERE IS A MORE TRADITIONAL WAY OF RELEASING INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, WITH ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT TOGETHER. AT A NEWS CONFERENCE.
HE SAID THAT IT HAD TAKEN 33 HOURS. WHAT DO YOU MAKE ABOUT THE SPEED OF THE CASE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT? THEY RELEASED THE VIDEO, THEY RELEASED THE PICTURES AND AFTER THAT THINGS REALLY SEEMED TO RAMP UP. I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT HE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN ARRESTED AT 10:00 LAST NIGHT. DID THAT SURPRISE YOU?
THE FBI DIRECTOR HAD ALLUDED TO THE SPEED WITH WHICH THIS INVESTIGATION WAS CONCLUDED, AND THIS HAS BEEN FASTER THAN OTHER CASES, BUT THERE REALLY IS NO TRADITIONAL SPEED FOR THESE TYPES OF CASES. AND IT'S HARD TO CHARACTERIZE THIS WAS FASTER OR SLOWER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE SEARCH YOU'LL RECALL FOR LUIGI MANGIONE IN NEW YORK LASTED 4 TO 5 DAYS. BUT THIS IS A PRETTY STRONG INDICATION THAT THEY THINK THEY'VE GOT THEIR PERSON, AND NOBODY ELSE IS A PART OF A NETWORK, OR THAT THERE'S STILL A PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT ELSEWHERE IN UTAH OR ACROSS AMERICA STEMMING FROM THIS MAN AND THIS CASE.
WELL, MANY PEOPLE ARE BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF THAT HE IS IN CUSTODY. THANK YOU, SCOTT, SO MUCH. LET'S TURN NOW TO SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT WEIJIA JIANG AND ANNA SCHECTER WAS THE CBS NEWS SENIOR COORDINATING PRODUCER FOR CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY. ANNA, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE. YOU'VE GOT SOURCES TO WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?
WHAT JUMPED OUT AT ME IS THAT THEY'VE ALREADY LOOKED THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN TYLER ROBINSON AND HIS ROOMMATE AT THE TIME. IN FACT, LAW ENFORCEMENT JUST TOLD US THAT THE ROOMMATE WAS TOLD TO GO TO THAT WOODED AREA AND RECOVER A THE GUN THAT WAS DROPPED THERE, THAT IT WAS WRAPPED IN A DARK TOWEL. ALL THAT DETAIL. SO THOSE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS, THAT'S ALL PART OF A CASE THAT IS BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW. AND WE JUST HEARD THAT WE'LL SEE THOSE CHARGING DOCUMENTS EARLY NEXT WEEK.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO TO HEAR THAT FAMILY MEMBERS SAID THAT HE HAD BECOME MORE POLITICAL RECENTLY.
THAT'S RIGHT. MORE POLITICAL THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE CHARLIE KIRK AND WE SEE THE MESSAGE ON THOSE CASINGS. I THINK THAT'S VERY TELLING. AND LAW ENFORCEMENT RIGHT NOW IS USING THAT TO POINT TO A MOTIVE.
WELL, GAYLE, DURING THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, THE VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE DID POST AND HE WAS CAREFUL TO SAY THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. BUT HE SAID THIS IS A BIG BREAKTHROUGH. AND EVERYONE WHO HELPED FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS TO PEOPLE GIVING TIPS DESERVES OUR CREDIT. HE SAID IN SOME WAYS, THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL IN THE EARLY DAYS. I POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE HE HAD SUCH A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP TO CHARLIE KIRK AND SO DID PRESIDENT TRUMP, ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHER WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS. SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE EAGER FOR THIS ARREST, BUT FOR THEM AND FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE VICE PRESIDENT, THIS IS EXTREMELY PERSONAL. AND WE HEARD FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY WHO ACTUALLY BROKE THE NEWS TO THE WORLD THAT THEY HAD A SUSPECT IN CUSTODY. AND HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE HOPES HE GETS THE DEATH PENALTY. HE SAYS HE'S BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH KIRK'S FAMILY, AND THAT HE PLANS TO ATTEND KIRK'S FUNERAL. SO I THINK THAT IS A LAYER THAT WE CANNOT FORGET AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION, JUST WHAT IT MEANS NOT ONLY TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT TO THEIR SUPPORTERS AND ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE WE'VE BEEN INTERVIEWING WHO HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO PROCESS.
THERE WERE CALLS VERY EARLY ON FOR HIM TO GET THE DEATH PENALTY, WHICH I THINK REALLY SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE FAMILY'S DECISION TO SAY WHEN THEY RECOGNIZED HIM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR SON TURNED HIMSELF IN.
AND I THINK IT'S NOTABLE THAT THEY, THE INVESTIGATORS AND THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT HOW IN THE DAYS BEFORE CHARLIE KIRK VISITED UTAH, THAT THIS SUSPECT, TYLER ROBINSON, WAS MENTIONING AT DINNER. HEY, CHARLIE KIRK IS COMING HERE. AND THAT WAS VERY CHILLING TO HEAR SOMETHING SO SMALL THAT TURNED INTO SOMETHING SO GRAVE.
YEAH, REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE SUSPECT AND HIS BACK HISTORY. LET'S TURN NOW TO CBS NEWS. NATIONAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTOR. THAT'S SAMANTHA VINOGRAD. SHE'S IN WASHINGTON. SAMANTHA, THE QUESTION FOR YOU, WHAT WOULD THEY BE INVESTIGATING NOW GOING FORWARD? THEY SEEM TO HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION.
THEY SURE DO. GAYLE. AND THE FBI WILL BE WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THOSE LEADS WITH THEIR STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS. BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS WILL BE COMBING THROUGH THIS INDIVIDUAL'S HISTORY, INCLUDING HIS SOCIAL MEDIA, HIS COMMUNICATIONS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND HIS MOVEMENTS. THE IMMEDIATE PRIORITY PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO ONGOING THREAT TO THE PUBLIC. THAT COULD ENTAIL REVIEWING WHETHER THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS IN TOUCH WITH LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS, ON DISCORD, ON OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. WAS HE SEEKING TO INSPIRE ANY OTHER SIMILAR KINDS OF PLOTS? SO WE'RE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NO ONGOING THREAT TO THE PUBLIC. AT THE SAME TIME, INVESTIGATORS WILL WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE ARC OF RADICALIZATION AND MOBILIZATION. MOBILIZATION THAT LED THIS INDIVIDUAL TO COMMIT THIS HEINOUS ASSASSINATION. PART OF THAT PROCESS IS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE WERE STEPS ALONG THE WAY THAT COULD HAVE TIPPED OFF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS HORRIBLE EVENT, SO THAT GOING FORWARD, INDIVIDUALS WILL BE MORE AWARE OF WHAT SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR AND HOW TO PREVENT THIS GOING FORWARD. GILL.
ALL RIGHT, SAM, THANK YOU. STAND BY FOR JUST A SECOND. SCOTT MACFARLANE. LET'S GO BACK TO YOU. BECAUSE SAM MADE A VERY INTERESTING POINT ABOUT AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE THOUGHTS ON THAT?
YEAH. LAW ENFORCEMENT SOURCES SAY THERE'S A GOOD PROBABILITY, IF NOT A LIKELIHOOD, THERE WILL BE BOTH LOCAL AND FEDERAL CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST TYLER ROBINSON. A BIT OF REDUNDANCY THERE IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM. THE FEDERAL CHARGES WOULD BEGIN WITH A CRIMINAL INFORMATION, THEN LIKELY A DETENTION HEARING OR A PRELIMINARY HEARING. YOU CAN BET THE FARM THE GOVERNMENT WILL SEEK DETENTION IN THIS CASE, CONSIDERING THE SCOPE AND SIZE OF THE CHARGES. BUT IT'S WORTH EMPHASIZING THAT FEDERAL CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS ARE MEASURED IN MONTHS AND YEARS, NOT DAYS AND WEEKS. FEDERAL CRIMINAL CASES SPAN YEARS, AND WE HEARD THE PRESIDENT ALREADY REBUTTING THAT TIMELINE, SAYING HE LIKES TO SEE FASTER TRIALS. AND THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME CONTROVERSY IN ITSELF THAT THAT TYPE OF ARGUMENT AHEAD OF A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SCOTT. NOW LET'S BRING IN CARTER EVANS, WHO IS AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE. CARTER, WHAT QUESTIONS ARE YOU HEARING THAT ARE STILL LEFT OUT THERE IN UTAH? I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE ARE SO RELIEVED THAT THEY HAVE SOMEBODY IN CUSTODY, RIGHT.
AND THAT'S THE PRIMARY THING HERE. BUT NOW AS WE LOOK INTO HOW THIS ALL UNFOLDED, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN QUESTION I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE INVOLVEMENT OF OTHER PEOPLE. AND WHEN THEY KNEW SPECIFICALLY THIS DISCORD CONVERSATION WITH A FRIEND, DID THAT FRIEND INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED, OR DID THEY INTERVIEW THIS FRIEND AFTER HE TURNED HIMSELF IN? THAT'S A BIG QUESTION I HAVE RIGHT NOW. AND I ASKED THE GOVERNOR IF THEY EXPECTED ANY OTHER ARRESTS OR IF HE ACTED ALONE. HE SAID THEY BELIEVE HE ACTED ALONE, BUT IT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. AND THAT COULD CHANGE. SO THAT IS PRETTY INTERESTING THERE. I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION TO THAT. HE MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED TO DATE 11,000 TIPS. THAT IS JUST ASTRONOMICAL. A LOT OF INFORMATION HAS COME IN AND I'M WONDERING, WERE THEY ABLE TO IDENTIFY THIS INDIVIDUAL, THIS SUSPECT, BEFORE HE TURNED HIMSELF IN, WERE THEY ON HIS TRAIL ALREADY? THAT IS NOT CLEAR AT THIS POINT. IF IT WAS SOME OF THOSE TIPS THAT PANNED OUT, OR IF IT WAS SIMPLY HIS FATHER BRINGING HIM INTO THE U.S. MARSHAL'S OFFICE. SO WE'VE STILL GOT A LOT TO CLEAR UP HERE, AND WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A LOT MORE NEXT WEEK, HE SAID. THEY'VE GOT THREE DAYS TO PREPARE THE CHARGING DOCUMENTS, SO BASICALLY THAT'S GOING TO PUT THEM INTO NEXT WEEK, WHERE WE HEAR A PRELIMINARY HEARING WHEN WE GET THOSE CHARGING DOCUMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY KNEW WHEN THEY MADE THIS ARREST.
I KNOW CARTER, THANK YOU. I WAS STRUCK, TOO, BY GOVERNOR COX'S WORDS TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SAY, WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE NOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENT CHOICE. WE NOW HAVE THE OPTION. POLITICS FEELS LIKE RAGE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. CARTER, WE THANK YOU. SCOTT AND SAM, WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US. JUST TO RECAP FOR YOU, IF YOU'RE JUST TUNING IN, AUTHORITIES HAVE CONFIRMED THE ARREST OF A SUSPECT IN THE ASSASSINATION OF POLITICAL ACTIVIST CHARLIE KIRK. THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN NAMED. HE IS 22 YEARS OLD. HIS NAME IS TYLER ROBINSON. HE IS A RESIDENT OF UTAH. HE WAS NOT A STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL. THEY TELL US ROBINSON'S FAMILY AND A FRIEND WERE INVOLVED IN PERSUADING HIM TO SURRENDER. OUR COVERAGE WILL CONTINUE, OF COURSE, THROUGHOUT THE MORNING ON OUR STREAMING CHANNEL, CBS NEWS 24/7. THERE, OF COURSE, WILL ALSO BE MORE ON YOUR LOCAL NEWS STATION. AND TONIGHT ON THE CBS EVENING NEWS. MANY OF YOU WILL NOW RETURN TO CBS MORNINGS. THIS HAS BEEN A SPECIAL, SPECIAL CBS SPECIAL REPORT. I'M GAYLE KING HERE IN NE