Ex-FBI official: Tyler Robinson disoriented, lacked escape plan after Kirk assassination

A former FBI field supervisor says Tyler Robinson was likely disoriented and without a credible escape plan after allegedly killing Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Kirk was shot Sept. 10 during a Turning Point USA event on the UVU campus, and Robinson remained at large for about 33 hours before surrendering. Law enforcement said he had an encounter with officers near the campus around 6:30 p.m. that day.

Michael Tabman, who led the FBI's Minneapolis Field Office, told Fox News Digital that while Robinson appeared to have planned the act, he probably did not have a coherent plan for getting away. "We don't have someone acting rationally," Tabman said. "He was acting irrationally, and again, I don't think he had a plan." Tabman said the suspect would likely have been overwhelmed by the gravity of his actions in the immediate aftermath, describing a state of confusion that could derail any attempt to escape.

Robinson's movements after the shooting remain partly uncertain, but messages between him and his partner, Lance Twiggs, indicate he stayed in Orem for several hours before heading south to St. George, his hometown. By Sept. 11, his parents had recognized him from FBI photos, and they, along with the Washington County Sheriff's Office, persuaded him to surrender peacefully around 10 p.m. Sheriff Nate Brooksby described the surrender as a gentle one, noting the suspect had told family members he feared a SWAT raid and was grappling with suicidal thoughts.

Tabman explained the FBI did not rely on sophisticated avalanche-of-clues tactics; instead, investigators used a blend of cyber and traditional gumshoe work. The bureau followed tips from the public, knocked on doors to gather surveillance video, and worked to reproduce the route the suspect likely took. He said a single credible lead can set the ball rolling and that authorities can reconstruct movements with a combination of digital footprints and door-to-door follow-ups.

During his first court appearance, conducted virtually, Robinson wore a restrained garment described as a suicide watch smock designed not to tear. The appearance was before 4th District Court Judge Tony Graf in Provo, Utah, as prosecutors outlined the charges against him.

Investigators continue to scrutinize the case as they assemble the timeline and assess potential influences. Officials emphasize that the case remains an active investigation and advise the public not to speculate about motive beyond what has been publicly released, while noting the intense security around the UVU campus in the days after the shooting.