On Wednesday, authorities revealed that the suspect, Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, requested a “peaceful” surrender to the police.

Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby spoke at a press conference, explaining that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson had expressed fear of being shot by the police and desired a “peaceful and gentle” surrender. The sheriff agreed to this approach, allowing Robinson to voluntarily turn himself in.

Brooksby noted, “Robinson was either worried that the SWAT team would confront him at home or that he might be shot by law enforcement. This fear was part of the negotiations that led him to come forward. We aimed for a soft approach so he would feel comfortable coming to my office, which is precisely what occurred.”

A retired law enforcement officer, who was also a friend of Brooksby, contacted him on Friday night to share that Robinson had confessed to a murder. This friend knew Robinson and his family through a religious group.

Following this tip, Brooksby said he would inform Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith about plans to take Robinson into custody. Just hours later, a friend and Robinson’s parents brought him to the sheriff’s office, where they met with a detective.

Robinson waited at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for roughly two and a half hours before federal agents arrived, as Brooksby’s office was not the lead agency; however, they had no doubts about Robinson during that time.

Robinson’s father recognized his son from a photo circulated by the FBI in Salt Lake City. The accused feared suicide instead of surrendering, but his father persuaded him to talk to a young pastor who was a friend of Brooksby and had worked with a task force in the past.

The suspect’s parents mentioned that Robinson had become more politically active in recent years, leaning “more gay and right-oriented.” He lived with his transgender boyfriend, Lance Twiggs, according to sources.

Robinson is facing several serious charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious injury, obstruction of justice, and tampering with witnesses, as well as committing violent crimes in front of a child. Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty.