Discord said Friday that the person accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk did not use the platform to plan the shooting or promote violence, after officials revealed he sent messages over the app.
Law enforcement arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson after a multi-day search for Kirk’s killer.
The suspect’s roommate shared Discord messages with officials, in which Robinson said he needed to get a rifle from a drop point, and discussed leaving the weapon in a bush and watching the area where it was left wrapped in a towel.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and extend our condolences to the Kirk family and everyone affected,” a Discord spokesperson said in a statement.
“In the course of our investigation, we identified a Discord account associated with the suspect, but have found no evidence that the suspect planned this incident or promoted violence on Discord,” they continued.
The company said it has removed his account for violating its off-platform behavior policy, which sets rules about harmful activities that occur on other online platforms or in the real world.
“We strongly condemn violence of any kind, including political violence, and we will continue to coordinate closely with law enforcement,” the spokesperson added.
President Trump revealed Friday morning that a suspect was in custody, two days after Kirk was shot and killed during an appearance at Utah Valley University. Authorities said a family friend reported Robinson to local law enforcement after he confessed or “implied” he had committed the shooting.
Discord, a messaging app popular with gamers, has previously found itself at the center of controversy. Payton Gendron, who killed 10 people in a racially motivated shooting at a Buffalo supermarket in 2022, detailed his plans in a private Discord server in the months leading up to the incident.
