The FBI has revealed that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk, had a rabid “obsession” with the conservative icon.
During an interview on Fox News, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino noted that Robinson vowed to “take out” Kirk because he “hated” his views and boasted that he had the perfect murder plan.
“I think it’s pretty clear based on the statements of family members, friends and some of the messaging we have on these digital footprints left behind that [Robinson] clearly had some obsession with Charlie Kirk,” Bongino said.
”Charlie Kirk is obviously a conservative commentator,” Bongino added. “I think it’s fairly obvious to everyone out there, and there’s no need to parse words with it, that clearly this was an ideologically motivated attack.”
FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox earlier in the day that Robinson, 22, had even told someone about his terrible plan before he shot Kirk, 31, in the neck at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
“He had a text message exchange with another individual in which he claimed that he had an opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk — and he was going to do it because of his hatred for what Charlie stood for,” Patel told “Fox & Friends.”
It wasn’t clear when Robinson sent the text message.
“The written note, we believe, did exist, and we have evidence to show what was in that note,” Patel said.
Robinson wrote in the note, “I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it,” according to Patel.
“That note was written before the shooting,” the FBI director said, adding that it had been found in the home Robinson shared with his boyfriend.
“We have since learned that the note, even though it has been destroyed, we have found forensic evidence of the note, and we have confirmed what that note says,” he said.
Bongino added that multiple “warning signs” regarding Robinson’s alleged radicalization appeared to have been missed — and that the feds will be subpoenaing a slew of people to see who knew what when.
“There appear to have been multiple warning signs,” Bongino said. “There were people in his network, friends and family who had stated that he had become more political, that he had become at some parts, as I believe some of his co-workers had stated, that he had kind of detached himself when the topic of politics came up and walked away from them.”
He added that data gathered by the FBI indicated that Robinson’s target “was obviously going to be Charlie [Kirk] and that people knew in advance.”
Patel stated that investigators have lately “learned some shocking things” from Robinson’s family and friends, including his transgender boyfriend. They also confirmed that the alleged killer had gotten more left-wing over time.
Patel claimed that fresh evidence against Robinson is quite strong. For example, DNA was detected on a towel that covered the murder weapon when it was thrown away. There was also a screwdriver found in the sniper’s nest on a roof near Kirk’s event.
“I can report today that the DNA hits from the towel that was wrapped around the firearm and the DNA on the screwdriver are positively processed for the suspect in custody,” Patel said.
Patel claimed that the bolt-action hunting rifle that was found nearby is still being evaluated. He hinted that the lab would make a statement soon.
Patel said that Robinson is not working with the police, but many others around him, including his family, have aided with the investigation.
“His family has collectively told investigators that he subscribed to left-wing ideology and even more so in these last couple of years,” he said.
Robinson remains in custody and is set to be formally charged with murder on Tuesday.
