St. George, Utah, USA: Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah, has been arrested by the FBI as the prime suspect in the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. His capture followed a 33-hour manhunt that ended near his hometown. Robinson grew up in a conservative Republican family in southern Utah—the same political background that Kirk represented.
Robinson was once known as a promising student. In high school, he maintained a 4.0 GPA, earned high test scores, and in 2021 received a presidential scholarship to Utah State University. However, after just one semester, he left college and later enrolled in an electrician apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College, gaining his apprentice license in 2022.
Neighbours and classmates described Robinson as shy, intelligent, and largely private. He enjoyed video games, comic books, and political discussions but was not outspoken about his views. Some acquaintances believed he leaned conservative, while others recalled that he was critical of both Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk.
Investigators revealed that Robinson recently spoke with a relative about disliking Kirk’s viewpoints before the shooting. Although his family supported Trump during the 2020 election, Robinson himself was registered as unaffiliated and had never voted. Authorities recovered a rifle with unused rounds marked with internet slogans when he surrendered.
Social media photos showed Robinson with his younger brothers using firearms and spending time outdoors near Utah’s Zion and Bryce Canyon. Officials are now working to understand what led a once high-achieving scholar to become the central figure in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.
