Authorities confirmed on Friday that social media speculation about the assassin of political influencer Charlie Kirk was incorrect. Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) identified Tyler Robinson, 22, as the suspect in the fatal shooting at a Utah university. Following the incident, users on the online forum 4chan erroneously named Skye Valadez as the shooter, claiming Valadez was a transgender man with a SoundCloud track titled “Charlie Kirk Dead at 31.” This theory spread rapidly on X, with users matching Valadez’s photos to surveillance footage released during the manhunt.
Additional suspects like Jack Bellows, linked to the Democratic Socialists of America, and Michael Mallinson, a retired banker in Canada, were also misidentified online. Mallinson expressed shock at how quickly misinformation could circulate, warning that such rumors might resurface later.
Social media users also misidentified George Zinn, a local political activist, as the shooter after viral footage showed him being apprehended by police. Authorities later clarified that he was not a suspect, nor were other individuals initially detained.
As the investigation drew significant public interest, with thousands of tips reported, Gov. Cox confirmed Robinson’s capture, putting an end to the manhunt and rampant speculation. He urged the public to disengage from social media, deeming it a “cancer” in society.
