World Desk

The family of a young Utah man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk told authorities he had recently become “more political” and recalled a dinner table conversation where they discussed whether Kirk was spreading hate.

Tyler James Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice, according to a probable cause statement released Friday. A judge has ordered him held without bail.

Robinson had recently mentioned Kirk’s scheduled visit to Utah Valley University — about three and a half hours from his family home in southern Utah — which sparked a discussion during dinner about his dislike of Kirk’s views, according to the family. State records show Robinson is registered to vote but unaffiliated with any political party and listed as inactive, having not voted in the last two general elections.

His parents, who run a granite countertop business, are registered Republicans. Court records indicate Robinson has no prior criminal history. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney to speak on his behalf, and his family has not responded to media inquiries.

Community in shock

Police sealed off Robinson’s street on Friday as reporters gathered outside the family’s home in a suburb of St. George. Window blinds were drawn, and neighbors expressed shock online that someone from their close-knit community had been implicated in such a high-profile killing. Several praised the family for assisting authorities in his arrest.

Neighbors described the Robinsons as quiet, outdoors-oriented, and active in family trips. Social media posts from previous years show the family vacationing in Disneyland, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Alaska, and engaging in boating, fishing, zip-lining and target shooting. One 2017 photo shows a smiling young Robinson holding the handles of a .50-caliber heavy machine gun during a visit to a military facility.

Robinson had been baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though church spokesperson Doug Andersen declined to provide further details about his involvement. Neighbors said they hadn’t seen the family at church services for years.

Friends and acquaintances described him as intelligent, quiet and reserved. Robinson had been an honor roll student in high school, scoring in the 99th percentile on standardized tests. He earned a scholarship to Utah State University in 2021 but dropped out after one semester. He later enrolled in an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George.

How the arrest unfolded

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Friday that the breakthrough came when a family member reached out to a family friend with information that Robinson had confessed or implied involvement in the shooting. Authorities then confirmed the tip with a friend of Robinson’s, who showed them messages describing a note Robinson allegedly left behind.

Discord, the social media platform where Robinson was reported to have shared gun-related discussions, later clarified that the communications in question were between Robinson’s roommate and another friend after the shooting, not posted by Robinson himself.

When Robinson was arrested, authorities said he was wearing clothing consistent with surveillance footage of the shooter. Ammunition recovered at the scene bore engravings referencing meme culture and fascist imagery, according to Governor Cox.