WASHINGTON (AP) — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Sunday that investigators are not ready to discuss the motivation behind it. assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. However, he said the suspect had left-leaning political beliefs, disliked conservative influencers and was uncooperative during detention.
“It’s clearly a left-wing ideology,” Cox told NBC’s “Meeting Press.” In CNN’s “Union Status,” he said, “that information comes from people around him, his family and friends.”
Cox said 22-year-old Robinson “is not cooperating,” and his friend painted a picture of someone radicalized on the dark corner of the internet. “There were obviously a lot of games going on,” Cox told NBC. “My friends have confirmed that there is that deep, dark internet, Reddit culture and these other dark places on the internet that this person is deep in.”
The governor added Republicans calling on all partisans to ease rhetoric after the attack.
Cox highlighted several Sunday morning news shows, but highlighted that investigators are still trying to identify the motives for attacks on the two fathers and Trump’s best friends who were killed Wednesday on one of his signature university lecture tours at Utah Valley University. The governor said more information could be released when suspect Tyler Robinson appears in court on Tuesday.
The governor said the suspect’s partner was transgender and some politicians pointed it out as a sign that Robinson was targeting Kirk in his anti-trans view. However, authorities have not stated whether it is relevant when investigating Robinson’s motives.
“Roommates are romantic partners and men are transitioning to women,” Cox said. “He was incredibly supportive and this partner was extremely supportive and I didn’t know this was happening.”
Investigators spoke with Robinson’s relatives and conducted a search warrant at a family home in Washington about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of Utah Valley University, where the shooting took place.
State records show that Robinson is registered to the ballot, but is not affiliated with political parties and is listed as inactive. In other words, they didn’t vote in the two most recent general elections. His parents are registered Republicans.
The ammunition found in the weapon used to kill Kirk was engraved with messages of provocation, anti-fascist and memetic culture. Court records show that one bullet casing had a message saying, “Hey, fascist! Catch!”
Robinson grew up around St. George, on the southwest corner of Utah, between Las Vegas and natural landmarks such as Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.
Robinson has become a member Latter-day Saints’ Church of Jesus Christsaid Doug Andersen, a church spokesman who was a young man, widely known as the Mormon Church.
According to a social media post, Robinson has two younger brothers, and his parents have been married for about 25 years. Online activities by Robinson’s mother reflected active families on vacation, going to Disneyland, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Alaska.
Like many people in Utah, they often spent their time outdoors – boating, fishing, ATV riding, ziplining, target shooting. A 2017 post shows the family visiting a military facility and posing with an assault rifle. Young Robinson is seen smiling as he grabs the handle of a .50 caliber heavy machine gun.
According to a video reading his acceptance letter posted to the family’s social media accounts, he was an honorary role student at a high school who scored nationally nationally on standardized tests and was recognized by Utah State in 2021.
However, according to the university, he attended only one semester. He is currently registered as a third-year student in the Electric Apprentice Program at Dixie Technical College in St. George.
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Riccardi reported from Denver.
