WASHINGTON — Household and mates of the 22-year-old accused of fatally taking pictures conservative activist Charlie Kirk described his politics as veering left lately as he spent massive quantities of time scrolling the “darkish corners of the web,” Utah Gov. Spencer Spencer Cox mentioned Sunday.
Investigators had been nonetheless piecing collectively details about the suspect, Tyler Robinson, and never but prepared to debate a possible motive. However Cox famous that Robinson, who isn’t cooperating with regulation enforcement, disliked Kirk and should have been “radicalized” on-line.
“There clearly was a leftist ideology,” Cox mentioned on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” citing interviews with Robinson’s family and acquaintances. “Pals have confirmed that there was type of that deep, darkish web, the Reddit tradition, and these different darkish locations of the web the place this particular person was going deep.”
He pointed to references discovered engraved on the ammunition used to kill Kirk, which included anti-fascist and meme-culture language. Court docket information present that one bullet casing had the message, “Hey, fascist! Catch!”
A Republican who has referred to as on all partisans to tone down their rhetoric following the assault, the governor added: “I actually don’t have a canine on this battle. If this was a radicalized MAGA particular person, I’d be saying that as properly.”
Cox harassed on a number of Sunday morning information reveals, nonetheless, that investigators are nonetheless attempting to pin down a motive for the assault on Kirk, a father of two and Trump confidant who was killed Wednesday whereas on considered one of his signature faculty talking excursions at Utah Valley College. The governor mentioned extra info might come out as soon as Robinson seems in courtroom Tuesday.
Cox mentioned the suspect’s associate was transgender, which some politicians have pointed to as an indication Robinson was concentrating on Kirk, the founding father of Turning Factors USA, for his anti-trans views. However authorities haven’t mentioned whether or not it’s related as they examine Robinson’s motive.
“The roommate was a romantic associate, a male transitioning to feminine,” Cox mentioned. “I can say that he has been extremely cooperative, this associate has been very cooperative, had no concept that this was taking place.”
Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s family and carried out a search warrant at his household’s house in Washington, about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of Utah Valley College, the place the taking pictures befell.
State information present Robinson is registered to vote however not affiliated with a political celebration and is listed as inactive, which means he didn’t vote within the two most up-to-date basic elections. His dad and mom are registered Republicans.
Robinson grew up round St. George, within the southwestern nook of Utah between Las Vegas and pure landmarks together with Bryce Canyon and Zion Nationwide Parks.
Robinson grew to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, identified broadly because the Mormon church, at a younger age, church spokesperson Doug Andersen mentioned.
Robinson has two youthful brothers, and his dad and mom have been married for about 25 years, in keeping with social media posts. On-line exercise by Robinson’s mom displays an lively household that took holidays to Disneyland, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Alaska.
Like many in that a part of Utah, they often frolicked outdoor — boating, fishing, using ATVs, zip-lining and goal taking pictures. A 2017 publish reveals the household visiting a navy facility and posing with assault rifles. A younger Robinson is seen smiling as he grips the handles of a .50-caliber heavy machine gun.
A highschool honor roll scholar who scored within the 99th percentile nationally on standardized checks, he was admitted to Utah State College in 2021 on a prestigious educational scholarship, in keeping with a video of him studying his acceptance letter that was posted to a member of the family’s social media account.
However he attended for just one semester, in keeping with the college. He’s presently enrolled as a third-year scholar within the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical Faculty in St. George.
Riccardi reported from Denver.
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