Sheriff Nate Brooksby of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (Utah, USA) said on September 17 that suspect  Tyler Robinson  feared being shot by police and finally agreed to surrender only if it was done peacefully, according to AP. Suspect Robinson (22 years old) is accused of shooting dead political activist  Charlie Kirk , an ally of President Donald Trump, at Utah Valley University on September 10.

Mr Brooksby said the suspect appeared quiet and upset when he and his parents turned themselves in to his office on September 11, the day after the assassination.

“He didn’t want a large SWAT team at his home or his parents’ apartment. He was really afraid of being shot by law enforcement,” the sheriff said.

Text messages between Robinson and his girlfriend, previously released by CNN, show that the suspect also feared losing his grandfather’s rifle, the weapon used in the crime and left in a bush near the scene. “I’m afraid of what my dad will do if I don’t bring grandpa’s rifle back… How am I going to explain to my dad that I lost it,” the text messages said.

PHOTO: AP

Prosecutors charged Robinson with murder and other crimes on September 16 and said they would seek the death penalty. They also unveiled a series of incriminating text messages and DNA evidence they said linked him to the murder of Kirk, a prominent media personality.

The shooting happened more than three hours away from where Robinson grew up near St. George. Chief Brooksby said that’s why he was stunned when a retired detective and a family friend of Robinson called to say they knew the shooter’s identity and were trying to convince him to turn himself in to his office.

“I couldn’t understand what he was actually saying,” Mr Brooksby said.

The sheriff said he was told the suspect may have killed himself and was in a remote area of ​​Washington County, southwest Utah. An hour later, Robinson arrived at the sheriff’s office, where he was greeted by plainclothes detectives.

PHOTO: AP

“He knows capture is inevitable. If we can eventually get him to surrender peacefully, I will make some concessions to make that happen,” Mr Brooksby said.

A note hidden in the suspect’s apartment

Investigators said that after firing the single fatal shot, the gunman texted his girlfriend and told her to find a piece of paper under the computer keyboard in the room.

According to court records, the note read: “I had a chance to take down  Charlie Kirk  and I will do it.”

Appearing shocked by the message, Robinson’s live-in girlfriend asked if he was the shooter.  Tyler Robinson  replied: “It was me, I’m sorry.”

Utah County Prosecutor Jeff Gray said DNA from the trigger of the gun used to kill Kirk matched that of suspect Robinson.

Law enforcement officials said they were looking into whether others knew about the gunman’s plans or helped. Investigators did not say whether Robinson’s girlfriend was among those being investigated, but expressed gratitude for her sharing the information.

Robinson’s girlfriend apparently did not contact law enforcement after receiving the text message. The suspect was on the run for more than a day before his parents recognized him in a photo released by authorities.