UPDATE: Just hours after the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk on July 15, 2023, a disturbing exchange in a Discord group chat involving Tyler Robinson, the alleged gunman, has surfaced, raising serious questions about his state of mind during the manhunt.
On Thursday, July 16, as authorities were still searching for Robinson, a user in the chat messaged him with a photo of a suspect and the acronym “wya,” meaning “where you at,” paired with a skull emoji. This suggested a chilling connection to the ongoing investigation, as police had released grainy surveillance images of a young man resembling Robinson from the Utah Valley University campus.
Robinson, 22, responded almost immediately, calling the person in the photo his “doppelganger” and joking that the look-alike was trying to “get me in trouble.” In a darkly humorous exchange, when another member sarcastically claimed, “Tyler killed Charlie!!!!”, Robinson’s flippant replies further illustrated a shocking lack of concern just hours after the murder.
By late Thursday afternoon, police had intensified their efforts to locate Robinson, who was arrested on suspicion of murder about 36 hours later. The Discord messages are the clearest insight into Robinson’s mindset during this critical time. They were shared with The New York Times by a high school acquaintance who remained anonymous due to fears of harassment.
In the chaotic conversations, Robinson joked about the FBI’s $100,000 reward for information leading to his capture, saying, “Only if I get a cut.” Another user humorously warned him, “Whatever you do, don’t go to a McDonald’s anytime soon,” referencing a previous high-profile arrest.
Robinson’s dark humor continued as he mentioned, “better also get rid of this manifesto and exact copy rifle I have lying around,” revealing a troubling attitude amid a serious crime investigation. Reports indicate he was encouraged to turn himself in, which he did on Friday in Southwestern Utah, over three hours from the scene of Kirk’s assassination.
As news of Robinson’s arrest spread, disbelief rippled through the Discord chat, with users struggling to comprehend the gravity of the accusations. “Our governor wants to give him the death penalty, dude,” one user noted, while another expressed confusion, stating, “I truly cannot distinguish if this is for real.”
Robinson is expected to face formal charges for Kirk’s murder on Tuesday, July 18. As of Saturday, it remains unclear whether he has secured legal representation. The motive behind the shooting remains a topic of intense speculation, with previous discussions about Kirk’s events suggesting underlying tensions.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Kirk’s assassination, and community reactions are mixed, with many calling for justice. As this story develops, the implications of Robinson’s behavior and the ongoing investigation will undoubtedly resonate across the nation. Stay tuned for more updates as this urgent situation unfolds.