Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Sunday that investigators have not yet determined a motive in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk but described the accused shooter as having moved toward left-leaning views and spending time in “dark corners of the internet.” Authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in the attack, which killed the 31-year-old Kirk while he was speaking at Utah Valley University.
Cox, speaking on NBC’s "Meet the Press," said interviews with Robinson’s relatives and acquaintances indicated the suspect "veered left" in recent years and that there were references consistent with anti-fascist and meme culture on ammunition linked to the shooting. Court records show one bullet casing bore the message, "Hey, fascist! Catch!" Cox cautioned, however, that investigators were still assembling evidence and that Robinson was not cooperating with law enforcement.
Robinson is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, Cox said, and state and local investigators have executed search warrants and interviewed family members as they seek to establish a timeline and motive. Authorities have not confirmed whether the cartridge engraving or other online activity is directly connected to the decision to target Kirk.
Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA to mobilize young conservative and evangelical activists and who had been a prominent supporter and confidant of former President Donald Trump, was shot on Wednesday while speaking at the university. The attack prompted an outpouring of tributes, including a vigil Sunday night at the Kennedy Center in Washington, where a long line of mourners gathered. Attendees included a mix of conservatives and other supporters; speakers at the memorial included White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
At the Kennedy Center, two House members paused during remembrances after becoming emotional, and Johnson led a brief prayer that invoked Kirk’s faith and called for overcoming evil with good. The vigil followed other tributes across the country, moments of silence at sporting events and local gatherings connected to Kirk’s speaking tours.
Cox said investigators have learned that Robinson’s romantic partner was a man who is transitioning to female and that the partner has been cooperative with authorities. The governor acknowledged some commentators had seized on that detail as a possible motive, given Kirk’s history of opposing transgender rights, but Cox reiterated that officials had not determined whether it was relevant.
"The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female," Cox said. "I can say that he has been incredibly cooperative, this partner has been very cooperative, had no idea that this was happening."
Officials in Utah have described Robinson as 22 years old and not currently cooperating with investigators. Court and state records show he is registered to vote but is listed as inactive and not affiliated with any political party; records show his parents are registered Republicans. Investigators executed a search warrant at his family’s home in Washington, Utah, roughly 240 miles southwest of the site of the shooting.
Robinson grew up around St. George and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a young age, a church spokesperson said. Publicly available online material and family social-media posts depict him as an academically accomplished student — an honor-roll high schooler who scored in the 99th percentile on standardized tests and who posted a video receiving an acceptance letter to Utah State University in 2021. School records show he attended the university for one semester. He is enrolled in an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George.
Cox said interviews and online material indicated Robinson had spent significant time in what the governor called the "deep, dark internet," citing platforms such as Reddit and other corners where people can be exposed to extreme rhetoric. The governor emphasized he would call out radicalization from any side and said, "If this was a radicalized MAGA person, I'd be saying that as well."
The shooting has intensified debate over political rhetoric and the potential for online radicalization to spur violence. Organizers and attendees at memorial events framed Kirk as a courageous spokesman for conservative values who encouraged young people to engage politically. At Dream City Church in Phoenix, where Kirk had hosted events, attendees watched clips of his speeches and speakers urged the public to carry on his message. One panelist at the church described the shooting as galvanizing the movement rather than silencing it.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, and more details are expected after Robinson’s court appearance. Cox and other leaders have called for a reduction in partisan hostility while publicly recognizing the need for a thorough inquiry into the shooter’s motives and any potential links between his online activity and the attack.