Family and friends of the 22-year-old charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk say his politics had shifted sharply to the left in recent years, spending countless hours exploring 'dark corners of the internet,' Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Sunday.
Investigators are still assembling details about the suspect, Tyler Robinson, and have not yet identified a clear motive. However, Governor Cox noted that Robinson—who has refused to cooperate with authorities—harbored a strong dislike for Kirk and may have been “radicalized” online.
Charlie Kirk, 31, a father of two and a trusted ally of former President Donald Trump, rose to prominence through dynamic speaking tours and as founder of Turning Point USA, an organization dedicated to mobilizing young, conservative evangelical Christians into political activism. His death on Wednesday, after being shot while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University, sparked an outpouring of tributes, including a candlelight vigil Sunday night at Washington’s Kennedy Center.
“There clearly was a leftist ideology,” Cox said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” citing interviews with Robinson’s relatives and acquaintances. “Friends have confirmed that there was kind of that deep, dark internet, the Reddit culture, and these other dark places of the internet where this person was going deep.”
He highlighted markings etched onto the ammunition used to kill Kirk, featuring anti-fascist slogans and meme-inspired phrases. According to court records, one bullet casing was inscribed with a chilling message: “Hey, fascist! Catch!”
A Republican who has urged all sides to lower the temperature of political discourse after the attack, the governor emphasized his impartiality, saying, “I really don’t have a dog in this fight. If this was a radicalized MAGA person, I’d be saying that as well.”
Utah’s governor says a motive still isn’t pinned down
Governor Cox emphasized on multiple Sunday morning news programs that authorities are still working to determine a motive for the attack on Kirk, adding that additional details may emerge when Robinson appears in court on Tuesday.
Governor Cox noted that the suspect’s partner is transgender, a detail some politicians have cited as a possible factor in Robinson targeting Kirk for his anti-transgender positions. Authorities, however, have not confirmed whether this aspect is relevant as they continue to investigate Robinson’s motive.
“The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female,” Cox said. “I can say that he has been incredibly cooperative, this partner has been very cooperative, had no idea that this was happening.”
Investigators have interviewed Robinson’s relatives and executed a search warrant at his family’s home in Washington, Utah, located roughly 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of Utah Valley University.
State records indicate that Robinson is registered to vote but has no declared political party affiliation and is listed as inactive, meaning he did not participate in the two most recent general elections. By contrast, his parents are registered Republicans.
The suspect grew up in southwestern Utah
Robinson was raised near St. George, in Utah’s southwestern corner, nestled between Las Vegas and iconic natural landmarks such as Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.
According to church spokesperson Doug Andersen, he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—commonly known as the Mormon church—at a young age.
Online posts by Robinson’s mother depict a family that traveled extensively. In one image, a young Robinson is seen smiling while holding the handles of a .50-caliber heavy machine gun outside a military facility.
A high-achieving student who ranked on his high school’s honor roll and scored in the 99th percentile nationally on standardized tests, he earned admission to Utah State University in 2021 with a prestigious academic scholarship, as shown in a video of him reading his acceptance letter shared on a family member’s social media account.
However, he attended Utah State University for just one semester, the university confirmed. He is now a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George.
Tributes emphasize Kirk’s religious faith
The Kennedy Center vigil was among many tributes honoring Kirk, including moments of silence at professional sporting events. In Washington, mourners lined up around the center, dressed in a mix of formal attire, summer dresses, jeans, and “Make America Great Again” caps.
Seventeen-year-old Domiano Maceri and his mother traveled roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Purceville, Virginia, to attend the Kennedy Center vigil. He said Kirk had inspired him to communicate more effectively with friends who hold differing viewpoints.
“I definitely feel like I was inspired in different ways,” Maceri said as he waited to get inside. “It definitely gave me confidence to speak to my friends about my beliefs more.”
Speakers at the event included White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, two members of the House of Representatives—whose tributes to Kirk were momentarily paused as they became emotional—and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“Father, help us remember the principles of your word that Charlie worked every day -- to advance that we not return evil for evil but we overcome evil with good,” Johnson prayed.
At Dream City Church in Phoenix, where Kirk hosted one of his “Freedom Night in America” gatherings, attendees viewed clips of the conservative activist discussing his desire to be “remembered for courage for my faith.”
During a question-and-answer session, Pastor Angel Barnett urged the audience to honor Kirk by continuing to carry forward his message.
“The left is nervous,” Barnett said. “And they’re concerned because they’ve lost control. Charlie started that, and we will continue it.”
Added church panelist Brandon Tatum: “These cowards thought that they could end or eliminate the movement.”
“They just made it bigger. They just made it stronger.”
