Dispatch audio captures response to Charlie Kirk assassination, search for suspect

OREM, Utah – Conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed at a speaking event in Utah Wednesday in an apparent political assassination.

It happened around 12:23 p.m. on the campus of Utah Valley University located in Orem, Utah where Kirk was hosting hundreds of students for a scheduled event on his The American Comeback Tour, organized by the Kirk-founded conservative activist group Turning Point USA.

According to the Turning Point website, the group says their mission is, ‘to build the most organized, active, and powerful conservative grassroots activist network on high school and college campuses across the country.” Adding, “With a presence on over 3,500 campuses, Turning Point USA is the largest and fastest-growing youth organization in America.”

On Wednesday, the event was ongoing as Kirk engaged with students under a canopy with the words, ‘Prove Me Wrong’ written on it when a single gunshot was heard.

Several videos circulating online show Kirk suffered a severe gunshot wound to the neck before being carried to a nearby vehicle by security and staff.

Later that afternoon, both President Donald Trump and Turning Point USA released a statement confirming Kirk’s death.

The response.

The first dispatch radio transmission regarding the shooting aired at around 12:26 p.m. when the dispatcher reported there was ‘one individual that was shot, but unknown where the shooter went.’

For the next 45 minutes, transmissions can be heard from emergency crews rushing to the scene and searching for the suspect, of which included getting descriptions from witnesses, tracking down a motorcycle and clearing university buildings.

Transmissions are condensed for time running from around 12:26 p.m. to around 1:10 p.m. (Mountain Time)

^{Utah County dispatch audio from around 12:26 p.m. to around 1:10 p.m. MT (Broadcastify)}

‘We got him.‘

On Friday, officials identified Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, as the suspect arrested in Kirk’s assassination. FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrest was made Thursday night after a family member turned him in to authorities.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Robinson is believed to have acted alone, but the investigation is ongoing.

Authorities also cited as key pieces of evidence engravings on bullets found in a rifle believed used in the attack as well as chatting app messages attributed to the accused shooter that a roommate shared with law enforcement after the shooting.

Officials say Robinson had become “more political” in the run-up to the shooting and had indicated to a family friend afterwards that he was responsible.

^{Officials announce Robinson’s arrest at a press conference Friday morning. (AP)}

Robinson is being held without bail in the Utah County Jail. He is charged with multiple felonies including Aggravated Murder and Obstruction of Justice.

Read the latest on the criminal case here.

On Thursday, the FBI released photos and video of the suspected shooter asking the public for help in identifying this person of interest.