‘This kind of stuff doesn’t happen in Utah’: Washington County Sheriff speaks on Tyler Robinson’s arrest

HURRICANE, Utah (ABC4) — The Washington County Sheriff’s office today released new information on how Tyler Robinson, the suspect accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, surrendered himself before officials.

According to Sheriff Nate Brooksby, Robinson’s family, along with a retired detective and a close friend of the Robinson’s family, played a key role in convincing him to surrender peacefully.

The sheriff said that at approximately 8 p.m. on Sept. 11 he received a call from the retired deputy. “I couldn’t fathom what actually came out of his mouth. So he said, ‘hey I may know who the Charlie Kirk Shooter is. I know the family through religious association,’ Brooksby said in a press conference on Wednesday.

He also added that Robinson was expressing suicidal ideologies at that time and his parents had talked him out of taking his own life. The family friend added that Robinson told them he was afraid of being shot by police or a SWAT team would show up at his house.

Within an hour, the retired detective drove Tyler Robinson and his parents to the Washington County Sheriff’s office.

“Part of the negotiation and getting him to bring himself in was that that we would we would treat it as delicate and as soft as possible to make him feel comfortable to where he would he would show up at my office and that’s exactly what happened,” Brooksby said.

Once inside, Robinson sat quietly in a room for two and a half hours until federal agents and lead investigators arrived. Officials described his mood as somber and said he was not handcuffed when he came into the building.

“Tyler knew it was just inevitable with all the law enforcement pressure that he, you know, his picture in the news, the gun at the gun on the news, he knew was inevitable that he would be caught.”

Brooksby said that the case is still a shock to him and the community especially because of Robinson’s ties to Southern Utah. “You know, this this kind of stuff doesn’t happen in Utah. You know, unfortunately, it did. But then to have the suspect be a Utah resident who literally went to the same high school I went to, it’s a it’s a double shock factor. And then the suspect happened to be homegrown, Washington County boy,” the sheriff added.

During the press conference, Brooksby also wanted to clarify that the retired Washington County Corrections Deputy, Matt Robinson, is not related to Tyler Robinson. Brooksby claimed Matt had to leave his house at this point because he was being harassed.

Charges against Robinson

Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder (a Capital felony) with the victim targeting enhancement and violent offense committed in the presence of a child aggravating factor.

He is also charged with felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury (a first-degree felony) with the same enhancement and aggravating factor, two counts of obstruction of justice (a second-degree felony), two counts of tampering with a witness (a third-degree felony), and one count of a violent offense committed in the presence of a child (a Class A misdemeanor) with the victim targeting enhancement.

Utah County Attorney Gray stated that he is also planning to file his intent to seek the death penalty. Robinson is being held without bail.