A former high school classmate of the man charged in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk described the suspect as a “Reddit kid,” saying the characterization reflected extensive online immersion that, in his view, may have shaped the suspect’s beliefs and actions.
Jordan Brann, who attended Pine View High School in St. George, Utah, posted a video on TikTok identifying 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in their yearbook and saying he was not friends with Robinson but had seen him consistently during three years of high school. "The best way I can describe him is a Reddit Kid," Brann said in the now-deleted video, which he later followed with a clarification saying his intention was to illustrate what he sees as the effects of excessive internet use on young people. The clip accumulated more than two million views in three days, according to Brann.
Authorities say Robinson was arrested on suspicion of assassinating Kirk, 31, the founder of Turning Point USA, during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Investigators said the shooter fired a single shot from a rooftop at the campus event, striking Kirk. Police identified Robinson as the suspect following a multiagency investigation and a search that ended with his arrest late Thursday in southern Utah.
According to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, bullets and casings recovered at the scene bore messages and inscriptions referencing internet culture and anti-fascist sentiments. Cox said one bullet was engraved with the phrase, "Notices bulge OwO, what’s this?" — language tied to online memes used to mock furries and transgender people — and another casing carried the words of the Italian anti-fascist song "Bella Ciao." One unfired casing was reportedly etched with, "If you read this, you are gay LMAO," Cox said. Other markings included a message that read, "Hey Fascists! Catch," accompanied by arrow symbols that observers have linked to various online or historical references. Social media users also pointed to a possible connection with the video game Helldivers 2, whose input sequence for an in-game airstrike resembles the arrow pattern engraved on a casing.
Investigators did not attribute the inscriptions to any single ideology in public remarks, and officials said the case remains under active investigation. Police said Robinson faces charges including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice, according to a probable cause affidavit. At a news conference, authorities said Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted.
Robinson, a Washington County native who graduated from Pine View High School in 2021, was taken into custody about 34 hours after the shooting. Authorities said FBI-released surveillance photographs circulated publicly and were recognized by Robinson's father, who confronted his son and informed law enforcement. Robinson was found in a wooded area near his St. George apartment and was arrested without publicized incident. Officials said he confessed to family members, who then tipped off investigators.
Former classmates described Robinson as an ordinary student in some respects. Yearbook entries show he participated in the auto mechanics club and listed "Math, it makes more sense than English" as a favorite subject. Several students told reporters he had friends, often socialized with members of the school band, and earned good grades. He received a four-year scholarship to Utah State University but attended for one semester before leaving and later enrolled at Dixie Technical College, where authorities said he was a third-year student in an electrical apprenticeship program at the time of the shooting.
In his initial TikTok, Brann said he had not been close to Robinson and that many others knew him better, adding in a follow-up video that "there are at least 100 if not more people" who could speak to Robinson's character. Brann framed his remarks as an observation about how intensive online engagement can affect young people’s beliefs and behavior.
The shooting has prompted widespread public attention and debate about political violence and the role of online communities in radicalization. Kirk, a prominent conservative commentator and founder of the youth group Turning Point USA, drew large crowds to campus events and was a polarizing figure in national politics. Local and federal authorities have said they are coordinating on the investigation and have urged the public not to speculate as they work to establish motive, connections and the full sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
Robinson was formally booked on the charges listed in the affidavit. Court proceedings are expected to begin as authorities continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses. Media outlets have sought comment from Robinson's family and former classmates; one outlet reported reaching out to Brann for comment. Gov. Cox, speaking at a press conference that followed the arrest, said simply, "We got him."