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Federal investigators have found no evidence connecting the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to any left-wing organizations, despite vows from President Donald Trump and his administration to target progressive groups after the assassination, according to three people familiar with the probe.
“Thus far, there is no evidence connecting the suspect with any left-wing groups,” one person close to the investigation told NBC News. “Every indication so far is that this was one guy who did one really bad thing because he found Kirk’s ideology personally offensive.”
The suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, faces multiple state charges, including aggravated murder and obstruction of justice, after allegedly shooting Kirk during a Sept. 10 open campus debate at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors in Utah have announced they will seek the death penalty, describing the attack as a politically motivated killing.
Federal Case Complications
While the Justice Department has labeled the killing an act of domestic terrorism, charging Robinson federally presents challenges. Robinson did not cross state lines, Kirk was not a federal officer or elected official, and there is no standalone federal statute criminalizing domestic terrorism.
“As is always the case, the FBI needs a federal hook to initiate an investigation,” said Thomas Brzozowski, who previously served as the DOJ’s counsel for domestic terrorism. “Here, it appears that they’re acting in an assistance-to-state-authorities capacity.”
Prosecutors could pursue sentencing enhancements under terrorism statutes, but two sources familiar with the probe cautioned that securing a federal case may be difficult. Still, one official noted there is “an expectation that some kind of federal charge is filed against Robinson.”
Motive and Text Evidence
Charging documents revealed that Robinson texted his roommate before the shooting, pointing to a hidden note declaring: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
When the roommate responded in disbelief, Robinson allegedly said he had been planning the attack for over a week. He later explained: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Police described the roommate as a biological male in a relationship with Robinson and transitioning to female. Authorities have not released the roommate’s name.
Political Fallout
The killing has sent shockwaves through Washington and reignited debates over political violence. Trump and senior advisers, including Stephen Miller, have vowed to dismantle what they describe as a “vast domestic terror movement” of left-wing groups.
“With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security and throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks,” Miller said, promising the effort would be carried out “in Charlie’s name.”
But experts caution that such a campaign faces legal and structural barriers. “There’s not a lot of federal law on this,” said Scott Walter, president of the Capital Research Center. “Frankly, the states and localities should be doing a better job, as they did in the 1960s.”
Extremism Landscape
The Anti-Defamation League reports that since 2002, right-wing ideologies have fueled more than 70% of extremist attacks and plots in the United States. A Justice Department study released last year similarly concluded far-right violence continues to outpace other extremist threats. That report was removed from DOJ’s website in recent days, according to 404 Media.
Security Concerns at Funeral
Kirk’s funeral is scheduled for Sunday in Arizona, with Trump and other GOP leaders expected to attend. A joint bulletin from the FBI, Secret Service, ATF, and Homeland Security warned that law enforcement is monitoring “several threats of unknown credibility” tied to the memorial. A senior law enforcement official said so far there is no concrete evidence of imminent danger.
