The Suspect: A Brilliant but Solitary Young Man
How did Tyler Robinson, a brilliant high school student raised in a Mormon family by Republican parents, end up shooting and killing American conservative activist Charlie Kirk? This question is troubling Washington, a small town in Utah.
The 22-year-old suspect, arrested on Thursday after 33 hours of search, grew up in this western U.S. town surrounded by canyons and mountains.
A Typical Middle-Class Upbringing
His parents live in a typical American middle-class home on a winding street with immaculate lawns. In this neighborhood close to the local church, Kris Schwiermann, a retired school janial, is in shock.
“Tyler was the eldest of three children,” she told AFP, describing him as “calm, respectful, quite reserved but very, very intelligent.”
“He was the ideal student, the kind of person you’d want in your class,” confirms Jaida Funk, who was his classmate from elementary to high school, aged 5 to 16.
“I always thought he would become an entrepreneur or CEO one day, not what I’m discovering about him now,” adds the 22-year-old. “It’s definitely unexpected.”
“He was calm but not strange, he had friends and spoke with different groups,” Funk continues.
After graduating with honors from high school in 2021, Tyler briefly attended college before switching to an electrician apprenticeship program at a local technical school near his home.
Politically Charged Parents
His parents, a granite kitchen countertop salesman and a healthcare professional working with disabled individuals, are Mormons, like many Utah residents, according to Schwiermann. However, they no longer practice their faith.
“I haven’t seen them at church for eight years,” says the 66-year-old retiree.
Photos shared by the Robinsons on social media tell the story of a family who loved traveling, camping, and hunting with their children.
This seemingly ordinary firearms training, which Tyler allegedly used to shoot Kirk in the neck with a rifle fitted with a telescopic sight during a rally at the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, has left many shocked.
Though his parents are registered as Republicans, the young man has not indicated any political affiliation. According to state records, he did not vote in 2024.
However, as revealed by Utah Governor Spencer Cox on Friday, the teenager had become “more politicized” in recent years.
He reportedly shared his animosity towards Kirk, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, with a family member. His father allegedly convinced him to turn himself in to the police.
Investigators also found messages with an anti-fascist tone: “Hey, fascist, take that!” or “Bella ciao,” the popular Italian anti-fascist song’s refrain, inscribed on bullet casings found near the crime scene.
This has led many on the U.S. right to label him as a ‘far-left’ assailant.
“Fanatic About Cars”
More than a fervent activist, his former high school classmates described him to the New York Times as a video game enthusiast, particularly of “Halo” and “Call of Duty.”
Tyler did not discuss politics with Jay, who had been seeing him since January after joining a group of car enthusiasts.
“He Was Quite Shy, Just a Car Enthusiast”
“He was quite shy, simply a car lover,” sighs this 40-year-old man, who refused to give his name.
“We only talked about our passion for ‘muscle cars’ and the sound they make when driven.”
His gray and shiny Dodge Challenger was the only thing his neighbors in Saint George, ten minutes from his parents’ home, knew about him in the impersonal complex where he lived.
Interviewed by AFP, the residents of this complex did not recognize him even when the FBI released his photo during the manhunt.
Heather McKnight, who lived near him for over a year, describes him as a distant, unfriendly individual who drove too fast for her liking.
“He was always aloof, never greeted anyone. (… ) He was just strange,” says the 50-year-old nurse.
“Who would have thought this skinny guy coming and going in his car was capable of such a heinous act?”
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Tyler Robinson? A 22-year-old man arrested for the shooting of Charlie Kirk. He was described as a brilliant, calm, and reserved high school student.
- What is his background? Tyler was raised in a Mormon family by Republican parents in Washington, Utah. He had two younger siblings.
- What are his parents like? His father is a granite kitchen countertop salesman, and his mother works with disabled individuals. They are no longer active in the Mormon faith.
- What was Tyler’s interest? Besides being a video game enthusiast, Tyler was also passionate about muscle cars.
- What led to the shooting of Charlie Kirk? Tyler reportedly shared his animosity towards Kirk, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, with a family member. He was reportedly more politicized in recent years.
- What evidence points to Tyler’s political leanings? Anti-fascist messages found on bullet casings near the crime scene have led many to label Tyler as a ‘far-left’ assailant. However, he did not indicate any political affiliation.
