by Natalia Mittelstadt
Tyler Robinson’s mother said that her son, charged Tuesday with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, became “more pro-gay and trans-rights” over the last year, according to court documents.
Robinson, 22, faces seven total charges related to allegedly killing Kirk, including aggravated murder and two counts of obstruction of justice. Kirk, 31, was shot during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University last week, and died at the hospital from the injury.
According to the charging document filed Tuesday, Robinson’s mother told police “that over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political and had started to lean more to the left – becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented.
“She stated that Robinson began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders,” the court document continues. “This resulted in several discussions with family members, but especially between Robinson and his father, who have very different political views. In one conversation before the shooting, Robinson mentioned that Charlie Kirk would be holding an event at UVU, which Robinson said was a ‘stupid venue’ for the event. Robinson accused Kirk of spreading hate.”
Robinson’s parents believed that their son was potentially the shooter after they saw “the surveillance image of the suspected shooter in the news,” per the charging document. While talking to their son, “Robinson implied that he was the shooter and stated that he couldn’t go to jail and just wanted to end it. When asked why he did it, Robinson said there is too much evil and the guy [Charlie Kirk] spreads too much hate.”
Robinson graduated from Pine View High School in 2021, then was a pre-engineering major that fall semester at Utah State University, before attending Dixie Technical College in the electrical apprenticeship program, Fox News reported.
The alleged shooter also lived with a transgender roommate, according to Fox News.
Law enforcement released text messages between Robinson and his roommate after he allegedly shot Kirk. Robinson told his transgender roommate to look under his keyboard. The note under the keyboard said, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” Robinson’s roommate asked him if he was joking.
Robinson responded, “I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.”
His roommate asked him if he was the one who killed Kirk, and Robinson said, ” I am, I’m sorry.”
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Natalia Mittelstadt is a reporter for Just the News. Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network and contributed to this story.
