On September 10, 2025, right-wing political activist and Turning Points USA co-founder and Executive Director, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated at 12:23 pm local time by an unknown gunman in Orem, Utah. New York Times visual timeline available here.

• On September 12, 2025, federal authorities announced that they had arrested a 22-year old white male, Tyler Robinson, for the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
• Robinson was allegedly convinced to turn himself into authorities by his family and he allegedly admitted to his father that he was the shooter.

ICDE has yet to confirm an ideological motivation for Robinson’s attack on Kirk. Though anti-fascist slogans may suggest anti-fascist ideology, ICDE notes that Groyper adherents have regularly used those same slogans in trolling, irony-laden discourse online. Groypers have also held deep animosity toward Charlie Kirk due to a feud between Groyper leader Nick Fuentes and Kirk.

Kirk was speaking to a crowd of supporters for his first tour appearance at Utah Valley University when a single gun shot hit him in the neck. 

Social media images and videos before and after the attack from bystanders show a potential “black-clad” figure on a nearby roof of the university near where authorities believe the shot was fired.

• On September 11, authorities stated that they uncovered additional evidence tied to the suspected shooter and that they are working to identify and apprehend the individual. Evidence included a “high-powered bolt-action rifle,” and video footage of the suspect.
• Also on September 11, the Wall Street Journal published a story based on right-wing influencer Stephen Crowder’s social media post claiming that an internal bulletin in the investigation alleges that the shooter’s recovered rifle had antifascist and pro-transgender messages inscribed on the ammunition. This has been walked back by authorities.

Conspiracy theories proliferated in the absence of early official evidence or leads. Antisemitism, hired hit, Democratic responsibility, and anti-transgender sentiment are the predominant themes.

This Intelligence Bulletin was intentionally held until preliminary details were confirmed about the alleged shooter.

Image credit: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images