Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah, has been identified as the individual accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Authorities reported that Robinson had been living with his parents for an extended period. He was taken into custody on September 12 after a family member recognized him in surveillance footage, which was a critical moment in a nationwide manhunt. Reports indicate that Robinson’s father encouraged him to surrender, subsequently contacting a family friend who informed the sheriff’s office.
During a recent press briefing, FBI officials refrained from discussing Robinson’s background, political views, or potential motives, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. An FBI spokesperson stated confidence in having apprehended the correct individual but acknowledged the need to gather more information about his identity and reasoning behind the alleged action.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox noted that a family member mentioned Robinson had adopted a more political stance in recent years. This relative revealed that discussions prior to the shooting involved negative sentiments towards Kirk, characterizing him as “full of hate” and expressing strong opposition to his views.
Public records indicated that Robinson had previously registered as an unaffiliated voter, while his parents held Republican registrations. He was not enrolled as a student at Utah Valley University, the site of the shooting, although he had attended Utah State University briefly in 2021.
Investigators have highlighted that Robinson was engaged in online culture, as evidenced by inscriptions found on shell casings related to the incident. These inscriptions included phrases hinting at trolling behavior and references possibly connected to anti-fascist symbolism. Also, his communication with a contact on Discord included messages discussing a “drop point” for a rifle.
Robinson remains in custody as prosecutors prepare to bring formal charges, while investigations into his background and possible affiliations are ongoing.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8wl2y66p9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss