Tyler Robinson, the suspect accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk this week, had left-leaning political views, according to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R).
“It’s very clear to us and to the investigators that this was a person who was deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,” Cox told The Wall Street Journal in an article published Saturday morning.
Cox said at a Friday morning press conference that a family member of Robinson told investigators that the suspect “had become more political in recent years.”
The family member, according to the Utah governor, said Robinson recently mentioned at a dinner that Kirk was scheduled to speak at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
“They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had,” Cox said Friday morning. “The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.”
Robinson is registered as an unaffiliated voter in Utah.
Authorities recovered the alleged rifle, a Mauser 98 .30-06 caliber, with a scope mounted on top of it.
The unfired casings had inscriptions, Cox said. The first one said, “Hey fascist!” The second unfired casing had the lyrics of the Italian folk song “Bella Ciao.” The third one said “if you read this, you are gay, lmao,” according to Cox.
Cox said Friday morning that Robinson’s family member got in touch with a family friend Thursday night, who then contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, stating that the suspect had “confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident.”
Robinson is a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College, per the Utah Board of Higher Education.
Robinson was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder and two other state felony charges.
