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Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah, was detained after a family friend informed authorities. Robinson had recently criticized conservative influencer Charlie Kirk during a conversation and was living with family at the time of the incident. He was taken into custody late Thursday, with officials revealing that no official motive has been disclosed publicly. Utah Governor Spencer Cox mentioned that a family member told law enforcement that Robinson had recently spoken about Kirk’s appearance at Utah Valley University, where the shooting occurred earlier this week. The family member also noted that Robinson had become more politically active in recent years, and authorities found anti-fascist messages engraved on bullet casings associated with the weapon used in the shooting.
Robinson, who has no prior criminal record, was charged with aggravated murder among other charges. Voter records show he was registered but unaffiliated with any political party and did not vote in last year’s presidential election. He graduated from Pine View High School in St. George in 2021 and briefly attended Utah State University, where he earned a scholarship, but left after one semester. His mother posted a video celebrating the scholarship and his ACT score where he achieved a top 1% score of 34. At the time of arrest, he resided at his family’s home in Washington County near the Nevada border.
His mother’s Facebook posts mainly chronicled family activities, travels, and milestones, without any political content. Some pictures show him with firearms, a common sight in Utah. His mother shared emotional feelings about his move to college, describing it as one of the hardest moments she’d faced. Authorities say a family member contacted a family friend who then reported that Robinson had confessed or implied responsibility for the shooting. Additionally, Robinson’s roommate provided messages indicating he had left a rifle in a wooded area, matching the weapon recovered at the scene. He remains held at Utah County jail, pending formal charges.