Profile of suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting challenges Trump’s blame on ‘radical left’

Tyler Robinson, the suspect arrested and accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk, does not fit the profile of a “far-left” activist, contrary to claims made by President Donald Trump.

Robinson, a 22-year-old resident of Utah, was taken into custody on September 12 after a family member recognized him in surveillance images.

This family member was reportedly Robinson's father, who encouraged him to turn himself in, according to CBS News, citing two law enforcement sources. The father subsequently contacted a family friend, who informed the sheriff's office.

The FBI announced Robinson's arrest on Friday but declined to comment on his background, political affiliations, or the possible motive behind the fatal shooting of Kirk during a college event at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday.

In the hours following Kirk's death, major political commentators quickly spread rhetoric online, with President Trump blaming the left for the incident.

In a video statement released on Wednesday night, Trump asserted that “the radical left” was “directly responsible for the terrorism we are seeing in our country today.”

He stated, “The radicals on the left are the problem. They're vicious, they're horrible, and they're politically savvy.”

The president vowed to “find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence.”

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Despite these claims, Utah state records indicate that Robinson had previously registered to vote but is not affiliated with any political party and did not vote in the last two general elections.

His parents, Matthew Carl Robinson and Amber Denise Robinson, who have been married for about 25 years, are registered Republicans.

Robinson was not enrolled at Utah Valley University, the site of the shooting.

He was admitted to Utah State University in 2021 on a prestigious academic scholarship, but attended for only one semester.

He is currently a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George.

According to Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a family member interviewed by investigators mentioned that Robinson had become "more political" in recent years.

While records show no prior criminal cases involving Robinson, this family member noted that he had recently expressed his dislike for Kirk in discussions and discussed Kirk's upcoming event in the lead-up to the attack.

Robinson remains in custody as prosecutors prepare formal charges. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray plans to file these charges on Tuesday, according to a statement from his office.

The investigation into Robinson’s background, motives, and potential affiliations is ongoing, with officials characterizing the incident as one of the most significant political killings in recent US history.

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