Tyler Robinson's Father Eligible for $1.1 Million Reward After Turning Him In For Charlie Kirk's Murder

Matt Robinson, the father of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the suspect accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, could be eligible for a $1.1 million reward from the FBI and private donors for providing information that led to his son's capture, authorities confirmed Friday. The development draws parallels to a 1998 case where the Unabomber's family received a $1 million payout for their role in his arrest, highlighting a rare but established precedent for family members tipping off law enforcement about relatives.

Tyler Robinson was taken into custody late Thursday night after a 33-hour manhunt involving over 20 agencies and 11,000 tips, following the fatal shooting of Kirk on September 10 at Utah Valley University (UVU). Kirk, 31, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent Trump ally, was shot in the neck during a speaking event on campus free speech and foreign policy, dying shortly after at a local hospital. Authorities described the attack as a politically motivated assassination, with Robinson allegedly confessing to his father that he disliked Kirk's viewpoints.

According to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and FBI Director Kash Patel, Matt Robinson recognized his son in photos and video released by authorities on Thursday morning, showing the suspect fleeing from a rooftop in a black T-shirt with an American flag eagle design, Converse sneakers, and a gray Dodge Challenger vehicle. Robinson had reportedly mentioned at a family dinner that Kirk was "full of hate" and spreading it during his UVU visit. When confronted, Tyler confessed but initially resisted surrender, expressing suicidal thoughts; his father then enlisted a youth pastor and family friend involved with law enforcement to convince him to turn himself in peacefully.

The FBI had announced a $100,000 reward early Thursday for information leading to the suspect's identification and arrest. Private donors quickly boosted it: Conservative influencers Alex Bruesewitz and Robby Starbuck each pledged $25,000, and billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman committed $1 million, bringing the total to $1.15 million before the arrest. Ackman, a recent Trump supporter with a net worth exceeding $4 billion, announced his pledge on X, stating it was to support justice in the case. He also separately pledged a $1 million endowment for Kirk's family, invested to provide ongoing income.

FBI guidelines allow rewards for tips from family members if the information directly aids the investigation, as seen in the 1998 Unabomber case. There, David Kaczynski received the full $1 million reward, despite initial concerns over turning in his brother Ted, after providing key details from the manifesto that matched Ted's writings, leading to his arrest. The FBI emphasized that such payouts prioritize justice and deterrence, even in familial conflicts. Matt Robinson, a retired police officer and owner of a construction company in Washington, Utah, reportedly acted out of duty, with Gov. Cox praising the family for "doing the right thing."

Tyler Robinson, a former one-semester student at Utah State University on scholarship and an avid hunter (social media shows him with a black powder buck), faces charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious injury, and obstruction of justice. He is unaffiliated with any political party per Utah records and was booked into Utah County Jail. Investigators recovered a bolt-action rifle with scope, wrapped in a towel, and ammunition inscribed with anti-fascist and transgender ideology messages, suggesting a motive tied to ideological opposition. Gov. Cox vowed to pursue the death penalty if convicted, calling it an "attack on the American experiment."

President Trump, who first announced the arrest on Fox & Friends Friday, praised the tipster as "someone very close" and plans to award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. Tributes continue, with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu mourning Kirk as a "lion-hearted friend of Israel." Kirk's widow, Erika, has requested privacy as memorials form nationwide.