It has been over ten days since conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. The incident has left people across the United States and even around the world in shock. Charlie was only 30 years old and was the founder of Turning Point USA. He had been answering questions from the audience when he was suddenly hit in the neck by a bullet. What shocked people even further was the fact that the accused shooter is only 22 years old. Officials have now released court documents that explain how his own parents got him arrested and what might have pushed him to take such a step.
The alleged gunman has been identified as Tyler Robinson from Washington County, Utah. His mother first suspected him when she saw FBI-released images of the suspect. She noticed the similarities in appearance and quickly told her husband. His father realized that the rifle shown in the images looked exactly like the one their son owned. Both parents, along with a family friend, confronted Tyler at home. During this confrontation, Tyler admitted he was the shooter but did not want to turn himself in. He told them he just wanted to end everything. With the help of a retired law enforcement officer who was close to the family, his parents convinced him to surrender. He was then taken to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, where he gave himself up. Sheriff Nate Brooksby later recalled how stunned he was when he first heard about it. He said he could not believe it when he was told that the person standing in front of him knew who Charlie Kirk’s shooter was.
Court documents also reveal what may have been Tyler’s motive. He reportedly told his parents that Charlie spread too much hate. Investigators also found a note in his home where he had written that he had the chance to take out Charlie Kirk and that he was going to do it. His mother explained that over the last year, Tyler’s political views had shifted. He had started supporting LGBTQ+ rights and was in a relationship with a transgender roommate. This was in direct opposition to Charlie’s strong and outspoken views against such causes. Authorities believe that these personal and ideological differences may have fueled his decision to target Charlie.
Tyler Robinson had briefly studied at Utah State University in 2021. He grew up in Washington, Utah, with his parents and two younger brothers. His mother, Amber Jones Robinson, works for Intermountain Support Coordination Services, while his father, Matthew Robinson, has served in the Washington County Sheriff’s Department for 27 years. Reports suggest that it was mainly his father’s influence and insistence that finally led Tyler to give himself up to the police.
