Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said investigators have concluded the alleged shooter who killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk was "deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology," according to an interview with The Wall Street Journal and a subsequent news briefing.
Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday at Utah Valley University during the first stop of his American Comeback tour at the Orem campus, authorities and state officials say. The alleged gunman, identified in media reports as Tyler Robinson, is believed to have traveled from his home in St. George, roughly a three-hour drive from the campus, investigators said.
Cox said evidence recovered at the scene provided investigators with a window into the suspect's online and political influences. Bullets and casings recovered by investigators were reportedly inscribed with messages including, "if you read this, you are gay lmao," the Italian phrase "Bella Ciao" and the words "Hey fascist! Catch!" Cox and investigators described elements at the scene as tied to internet subcultures and political symbolism.
At a press conference Friday, Cox said the defendant's family had discussed the suspect's views, telling investigators "why they didn't like him and the viewpoints that he had." Cox said those conversations, together with material recovered by investigators, made the suspect's political leanings "very clear to us and to the investigators."
Officials did not release a formal motive or a full investigative report Friday. Cox's remarks followed the agency-level investigative work and the interview he gave to the Wall Street Journal. Law enforcement agencies continue to gather forensic evidence and digital records, according to statements from state officials.
"Bella Ciao" is an Italian anti-fascist song from World War II that has been referenced in recent years on social media platforms, and investigators said the phrase's appearance on recovered items suggested connections to contemporary internet culture as well as historical political movements. Authorities declined to offer further details about the suspect's online postings or affiliations while the probe is ongoing.
Kirk, a conservative commentator and activist, had embarked on the American Comeback tour earlier this month. The shooting at Utah Valley University prompted an immediate response from campus security and local law enforcement. Media accounts and officials identified the location of the attack as the university campus in Orem.
Investigators have not publicly released the full set of evidence or a final determination of motive, and prosecutors have not filed public comments detailing the investigation's conclusions. State officials said they will continue to coordinate with local law enforcement as work proceeds.
The case has drawn national attention because of Kirk's profile in conservative political circles and because initial reports indicated political messaging at the scene. Officials cautioned that investigation remains active and that public statements to date reflect preliminary findings rather than a completed investigative or judicial determination.