Tyler Robinson, the man who 'shot Charlie Kirk dead'

Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old currently in custody as the suspect in the deadly shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, registered to vote without any party affiliation and has not participated in the two most recent elections. However, a family member informed investigators that Robinson "had become more political in recent years," as stated by Utah Governor Spencer Cox during a press conference on Friday morning, particularly noting that he had expressed hostility towards Kirk, according to the family member.

Kirk was a supporter of US President Donald Trump. Kirk's influence expanded through media appearances, podcasts, and books, where he championed issues like free speech, limited government, and opposition to progressive policies. His alliance with Trump was particularly significant.

Authorities, who have characterised Kirk’s murder as a "political assassination", found typically leftist, unwarranted anti-fascist messages inscribed on ammunition alongside a rifle near the shooting location, which suggests a shift in Robinson's political views.

Among those messages youngsters in the United States are known to throw around without much thought was: "Hey fascist! Catch!" and another that seemed to reference an Italian anti-fascist song.

The Utah State University chapter of Kirk’s American Comeback Tour was slated to unfold on September 30.

Back story of Tyler Robinson

Robinson was raised in Washington, Utah, and received a scholarship to attend Utah State University following a commendable academic performance in high school. Still, he withdrew after only one semester, as per public records, social media, and a statement from the university.

Robinson hails from a tranquil suburb of St George, located in the southwestern part of the state. It is approximately a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Utah Valley University, where Kirk was tragically shot on Wednesday afternoon during a campus event.

Robinson completed his education at Pine View High School in St. George in 2021, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the institution. He was awarded a resident presidential scholarship to attend Utah State University, as indicated by a Facebook video his mother shared, in which he is seen reading a letter regarding the accolade.

A spokesperson for the university said in a statement on Friday that Robinson “briefly attended Utah State University for one semester in 2021.”

Voter registration records show that Robinson is registered as unaffiliated with any political party. Nevertheless, he is also categorised as an "inactive" voter, indicating that he has not cast a ballot in at least the last two general elections.

Photos on social media depict Robinson wearing grey Converse shoes and sunglasses that closely resemble those worn by the shooting suspect in images released by law enforcement earlier this week.

The arrest

Cox mentioned at the press conference that a family member of Robinson had contacted a family friend on Thursday night, and this family friend informed the Washington County Sheriff’s Office that "Robinson had confessed to them or suggested that he had committed the incident."

Cox reported that a relative of Robinson informed investigators that during a recent family gathering, Robinson had brought up Kirk’s forthcoming event at Utah Valley, and they discussed their disapproval of him and his perspectives. "The family member also remarked that Kirk was filled with hatred and disseminating hate," Cox stated.

Robinson was apprehended around 10 PM on Thursday, following a 33-hour search, as reported by FBI Director Kash Patel on Friday.

Weapon and motive

The bolt-action rifle that Robinson utilised and subsequently abandoned in a wooded area close to the campus bore various inscriptions on the bullet casings, according to Cox, including the phrase, "Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao," which seemed to allude to an Italian anti-fascist anthem.

Additional engravings suggested links to online trolling and memes, one of which read, "If you read this, you are gay LMAO."