The suspect in the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk is not cooperating with authorities, but investigators are striving to uncover the motive by speaking with his acquaintances and family, Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced on Sunday. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, will be formally charged on Tuesday and is currently detained in Utah.
Investigators are still piecing together why Robinson allegedly climbed a rooftop at Utah Valley University during an outdoor event and shot Kirk in the neck from a distance on Wednesday. Kirk, a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and co-founder of the conservative student organization Turning Point USA, was killed by a single rifle shot at the event attended by 3,000 people in Orem, approximately 40 miles south (65 km) of Salt Lake City. This incident has heightened concerns about an increase in political violence in the U.S. and the growing divide between political factions.
Robinson has not confessed to investigators, Cox told ABC’s “This Week.”
“He is not cooperating, but those around him are, which is crucial,” the Republican governor stated.
Mourners gather outside a memorial for political activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 13, 2025, in Orem, Utah. — AFP
One individual cooperating with authorities is Robinson’s roommate, who was also a romantic partner, Cox noted, referencing the FBI. Cox described the roommate as “a male transitioning to female,” and mentioned the roommate has been “extremely cooperative.”
Reuters has not been able to contact the roommate or their representatives for comments and could not verify Robinson’s legal representation.
When asked on CNN’s “State of the Union” if the roommate’s gender identity is relevant to the investigation, Cox replied, “That’s what we’re determining right now… It’s easy to jump to conclusions, so we are examining shell casings and other forensic evidence.”
Investigators discovered messages engraved on four bullet casings, referencing memes and video game jokes, as described in an affidavit. One inscription read: “hey fascist! CATCH!” followed by directional arrows, likely a nod to a video game bomb sequence. Another casing read, “If you read This, you are GAY Lmao,” meaning “laughing my ass off.” Kirk’s charged rhetoric, often involving anti-LGBT and anti-immigrant remarks, attracted many conservatives but also strong criticism from liberals.
Robinson, a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College, part of Utah’s public university system, was apprehended at his parents’ home, about 260 miles (420 km) southwest of the crime scene after a 33-hour manhunt.
INVESTIGATORS SEARCH FOR MOTIVE
Relatives and a family friend informed authorities that he had implicated himself in the crime, Cox previously stated.
Though raised by religious parents in a conservative state area, “his ideology differed from his family,” Cox said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” withholding specifics.
State records reveal Robinson was a registered voter with no political party affiliation. A relative mentioned Robinson had become more political recently and had expressed disdain for Kirk and his views, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.
Robinson was “not a fan” of Kirk, Cox noted on Sunday.
The murder has provoked outrage among Kirk’s supporters and condemnation of political violence from varied ideological perspectives.
Many Republicans, including Trump, have criticized liberals, accusing them of inciting anti-conservative sentiment that might inspire violence, even as the president and his allies have often used violent imagery against their opponents.
Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, called for calm on Sunday.
“We need to tone down the rhetoric,” Johnson said on “Fox News Sunday.”
In discussions with Republican and Democratic House members following Kirk’s murder, Johnson noted, “There’s a recognition that framing simple policy disagreements as existential threats to democracy must stop.”
However, Johnson also criticized Democrats.
“You can’t label the other side as fascists and enemies without realizing that some unstable people might act dangerously. This has been increasingly frequent,” Johnson stated.
On “Meet the Press,” Cox partly blamed social media, saying it has “played a role in every assassination and attempt over the past five or six years.”
Trump has credited Kirk for attracting young voters to conservatism, with his Turning Point movement claiming over 800 chapters on college campuses. Kirk’s widow announced the movement’s continuation on Friday.
A memorial for Kirk is scheduled for September 21 in Glendale, Arizona, his organization reported.
