Community members gather at an intersection in Indian River County just west of Vero Beach, Florida, for a Charlie Kirk flag wave gathering, Sept. 13, 2025, to honor the 31-year-old activist who was killed by a single gunshot while speaking in front of some 3,000 people as part of his 'American Comeback Tour' at Utah Valley University.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told ABC News' "This Week" on Sept. 14 that Tyler Robinson, the suspect in custody in the investigation into conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination, is not cooperating with FBI investigators, but "the people around him are cooperating."

That includes Robinson's romantic partner, with whom the 22-year-old Utah man lived.

Cox, a Republican, also made an appeal for unity, noting that Democrats have also been targeted in recent attacks.

Kirk's assassination at a Utah college campus last week has led to a national reflection on civil discourse and political violence in America, with commentators and politicians across the ideological spectrum decrying the grisly shooting.

Kirk's shooting is likely to continue shaping the national dialogue in the days and weeks ahead.

Kirk's group to continue holding events

The conservative advocacy group Kirk founded will continue with all of its scheduled on-campus events, a spokesperson told The Salt Lake Tribune on Sunday.

“Turning Point USA’s fall campus will continue on with all scheduled evening events,” Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA, told the newspaper. “In honor of Charlie Kirk’s life, mission, and legacy, some of the most influential voices in the conservative movement have generously offered to speak in his place at these events. Their commitment ensures that Charlie’s vision for America carries forward with strength and conviction.”

-Greg Burton

Cox calls for unity, blasts divisive ‘conflict entrepreneurs’

Utah’s governor repeated his calls for Americans to reject political violence and the social media feeds and divisive figures that he believes are fanning the flames.

He acknowledged President Donald Trump was “very angry” about Kirk’s death in a recent phone call (first reported by The Atlantic) where they also discussed the potential of being targeted themselves.

“I brought up the Democrats who were assassinated recently … the body count is piling up, and I’m so concerned about this radicalization piece,” Cox said on ABC’s This Week.

“Right now we’re in a dark place,” Cox added. “Every one of us has to make a decision. Are we going to hate our neighbor? Are we going to hate the other side? Are we going to return violence with violence?”

Cox, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, noted that his Mormon faith emphasizes individual agency.

“Every one of us gets to make our own decisions,” he said. “And if we’re waiting for a president or a governor of Utah or anywhere else to get us out of this mess, that’s just never going to happen.”

“There are conflict entrepreneurs out there who benefit from radicalizing us,” Cox added, when asked about criticism he’s received from right-wing firebrand Steve Bannon.

The governor said that a key outcome of the shooting investigation will be understanding how Robinson, who authorities believe shot Kirk, became radicalized.

“We also have to figure out how it came to be that a kid with a 4.0, with a 34 on the ACT, with a full ride scholarship at my alma mater, who didn’t even last a semester, drops out and ends up doing something like this,” Cox said on ABC. “We need to understand that, and we need to figure out how to stop it.”

-Davis Winkie

Sunday evening memorial for Kirk in Washington, D.C.

Members of Congress, conservative leaders and members of Donald Trump's administration are expected to attend a memorial service and prayer vigil on Sunday evening honoring slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center.

Attendees will celebrate Kirk's life and legacy and offers prayers at the service, Arizona state Sen. Jake Hoffman, who is organizing the event, said.

According to the media advisory, dignitaries sharing remarks and offering prayers will include: Speaker Mike Johnson, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Senior Advisor for U.S. AGM Kari Lake, Reps. Andy Biggs, Anna Paulina Luna, and Eli Crane, and Arizona state Sen. Jake Hoffman.

Neither President Donald Trump or Vice President JD Vance has confirmed they will attend.

-Francesca Chambers

Utah governor: Accused assassin’s romantic partner cooperating with investigation

Robinson’s romantic partner, who lived with him, “has been incredibly cooperative” with investigators, according to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.

“The FBI has confirmed that as well that the roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female,” he said on CNN’s "State of the Union" Sept. 14. “This partner has been incredibly cooperative, had no idea that this was happening, and is working with investigators right now.”

The governor, when asked about whether Robinson’s partner was linked to a potential motive, expressed caution.

“We’re trying to figure it out. I know everybody wants to know exactly why and point the finger. And I totally get that. I do too,” he said. “I just want to be careful, as I haven’t read all of the interview transcripts.”

-Davis Winkie

Utah governor: Accused Kirk assassin isn’t cooperating with authorities

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, speaking on ABC’s "This Week" Sept. 14, said that the suspect in custordy for Kirk's shooting, Tyler Robinson, “is not cooperating” with law enforcement.

Robinson, a 22 year-old Utah man who investigators believe shot Kirk, “has not confessed to authorities,” Cox said.

The governor emphasized that “the people around him are cooperating.”

Cox said that charging documents will detail what authorities believe may have motivated Robinson, as well as forensic evidence linking him to the shooting.

“There will be much, much more information on Tuesday, when that document is filed with the courts,” he said.

-Davis Winkie

‘Wrong.’ MLK’s daughter weighs in on comparisons of Kirk to slain civil rights leader, Jesus and JFK

A social-media image depicting Kirk alongside Jesus, presidents John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, and the Rev. Martin Luthor King Jr., with the phrase "all because of words" has spread rapidly among conservatives. Kirk had long criticized King's legacy, and in 2023 referred to King as "awful" and "not a good person."

Kirk also described King's landmark achievement, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as "a huge mistake." Kirk also made caustic statements in his broadsides against affirmative action, such as saying, "If I see a Black pilot, I'm going to be like, 'Boy, I hope he's qualified."Bernice King, the slain civil rights leader's youngest daughter, shared the image after Kirk's assassination along with the response: "There are so many things wrong with this. So many. I get tired, y’all."King is the CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.

-Trevor Hughes

Turning Point USA sees surge in interest

In a social media post, Turning Point USA official Andrew Kolvet said the organization has been deluged with requests to start new campus chapters for high school and college students: more than 32,000 inquiries in 48 hours, he said. TPUSA currently has about 900 college chapters and 1,200 high school chapters.

"Charlie's vision to have a Club America chapter (our high school brand) in every high school in America (around 23,000) will come true much, much faster than he could have ever possibly imagined," Kolvet said.

Turning Point's power comes from its connection with young voters, and Kirk long argued that his organization's chapters were necessary to combat "woke" classroom ideology. He often held rallies and debates for students, and was speaking at Utah Valley University on the first stop of "The American Comeback Tour" when he was killed.

Kirk's wife said the campus tour will continue; it's next scheduled for Colorado State University in Fort Collins on Sept. 18.

-Trevor Hughes

Public memorial service expected next weekend

A public memorial service for Kirk is scheduled to take place in Arizona on Sunday, Sept. 21, according to Turning Point USA.

The conservative advocacy organization Kirk co-founded said in an X post that the service would take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

"Join us in celebrating the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Charlie Kirk, an American legend," the organization said.

The service is scheduled to take place at the home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. Turning Point, with roughly 800 college chapters, is headquartered in Phoenix.

Doors are expected to open for Kirk's memorial service at 8 a.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST), according to the organization, and the program is planned to begin at 11 a.m. MST.

Kirk lived in Arizona with his wife, Erika, and two children.

Kirk, 31, was killed while speaking on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.

Two days later, the suspected shooter was publicly identified by authorities as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was taken into custody Thursday night, Sept. 11, more than 24 hours after Kirk's killing. Prosecutors are expected to formally file charges against Robinson at his first court appearance on Tuesday, Sept. 16, according to Christopher Ballard of the Utah County Attorney’s Office.

Kirk's casket was flown by Vice President JD Vance on Air Force Two from Salt Lake City, Utah, to a mortuary in Phoenix on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.

Top Trump officials expected to attend Charlie Kirk's memorial service

President Donald Trump told reporters on Sept. 11 that he plans to attend Kirk's service.

“They’ve asked me to go and I think I have an obligation to do it,” Trump said.

The president is scheduled to be in the United Kingdom immediately beforehand.

Top administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vance, are expected to attend.

Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund and Jonathan Limehouse

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox: Tyler Robinson not cooperating in Kirk investigation: live updates

Reporting by Francesca Chambers, Trevor Hughes and Davis Winkie, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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