WASHINGTON — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Sunday that investigators are not ready to determine the motive behind the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, though early accounts suggest the suspect held left-leaning political beliefs and a personal dislike for the prominent Trump ally.
Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, Cox said 22-year-old Tyler Robinson “clearly” aligned with a leftist ideology, citing accounts from the suspect’s relatives and friends.
On CNN, he added: “That information comes from the people around him, his family members and friends.”
Robinson, accused of fatally shooting Kirk last Wednesday during a campus event at Utah Valley University, has not cooperated with investigators, Cox said.
Friends described Robinson as spending extensive time in “the dark corners of the internet,” immersed in online gaming, Reddit subcultures and other fringe spaces.
Cox, a Republican, emphasized his concern over escalating political rhetoric. “I really don’t have a dog in this fight. If this was a radicalized MAGA person, I’d be saying that as well,” he said.
Authorities continue to investigate whether Robinson’s personal life played a role.
The governor confirmed that Robinson’s partner is transgender, a fact some politicians suggested may have influenced the attack given Kirk’s outspoken opposition to transgender rights. Investigators have not drawn such conclusions, Cox noted, adding that the partner has been fully cooperative.
Court documents show ammunition recovered at the scene bore anti-fascist and meme-inspired engravings, including one casing inscribed: “Hey, fascist! Catch!”
Robinson is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. State records indicate he is a registered voter but not affiliated with a political party and has not cast ballots in the past two general elections. His parents are registered Republicans.
Raised in St. George, Robinson grew up in an active Mormon family, frequently engaged in outdoor sports and target shooting. Social media posts show family vacations and visits to military facilities, including one in 2017 where a young Robinson posed with a .50-caliber machine gun.
A high-achieving student, Robinson scored in the 99th percentile nationally on standardized tests and earned admission to Utah State University in 2021 with a top scholarship, though he left after one semester. He is currently enrolled in an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College.
Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA and a close confidant of President Donald Trump, was killed while speaking to students as part of his college tour. He is survived by his wife and two young children. — Agencies
