Tyler Robinson, the man who “killed” the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, grew up in a Utah suburb and was good at academics. He even received a four-year scholarship from Utah State University on the basis of merit. However, he left the school right after attending the first semester and never returned, CNN reported.
While authorities are still trying to figure out what led him to kill activist Charlie Kirk, people on social media are discussing his political leanings. Is he affiliated with any political party? Is he a Republican or a Democrat?
Anti-fascist messages on bullet casings
Authorities, per a report by CNN, found bullet casings with anti-fascist messages. One of them read, “Hey fascist! Catch.” Utah Governor Spencer Cox said that these messages “speak for themselves”.
Another had a series of arrows, which represent controls in the video game Helldivers 2. A third had the lyrics of the anti-fascist Italian song, “Bella Ciao,” popularised by the Netflix series Money Heist.
“If you read this, you are gay LMAO,” yet another engraving read, the outlet further reported.
Tyler Robinson on Trump, Charlie Kirk
One of the family members revealed that Robinson once lashed out at Charlie Kirk after he became “more political in recent years”. He even mentioned Kirk’s latest event at Utah Valley University at the dinner table.
One electrician, on the condition of anonymity, however, told CNN that he “didn’t really talk political” and was an introvert.
He added that Robinson didn’t like Trump or Charlie. However, ahead of the 2020 election, he was all Trump.
“When I knew him and his family, they were like diehard Trump,” CNN quoted a former classmate, before adding, “When this happened, I was like… I don’t know what changed.”
But, is he a Republican?
His grandmother, Debbie Robinson, told Daily Mail that most of her family is Republican, and that she doesn’t know anyone who is a Democrat.
“My son, his dad, is a Republican for Trump. Most of my family members are Republicans. I don’t know any single one who’s a Democrat.”
For Robinson, one can’t say for sure if he is a Republican or Democrat, as he never cast a ballot, per the Washington County clerk, despite being registered to vote and not affiliated with any party.
In fact, his neighbour, too, in St. George, thought that he was a Republican, per CNN. “I thought he was a Republican, but I guess I was wrong about that,” the neighbour said, adding that he didn’t recall Robinson having strong views on politics.
Another said that he used to be “super reclusive” and was rarely seen outside his apartment.
How was he caught?
After Robinson’s photos, released by the FBI, went viral on social media as the federal agencies and local police were on a manhunt, his father recognised him and helped police in his arrest.
He asked Robinson if it was him, and later on asked him to turn himself in. He initially denied, saying that he would rather kill himself. However, later on, he talked with a young pastor, after his father convinced him to and agreed to be taken into custody.