Utah Governor Spencer Cox revealed new information about the background and ideology of 22-year-old shooting suspect Tyler Robinson, who killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The governor described Robinson as a “very normal young man” who appeared to have been radicalized after dropping out of college and moving back to his hometown in southern Utah.
Robinson’s ideological views were reportedly “leftist,” but Cox did not provide specifics about his views or offer details to substantiate this assessment. Instead, he attributed the suspect’s radicalization to his time spent immersed in online gaming, message boards, and parts of the internet known as the “deep, dark web.”
The governor said Robinson had a romantic relationship with a partner who was transitioning from male to female, which may shed light on his motive for the killing. However, Cox also stated that the suspect’s motives were unclear and that investigators were still gathering information.
The revelation has sparked debate among LGBTQ+ activists, who argue that discussing the suspect’s family and romantic partner’s gender identity may be premature and potentially harmful. Governor Cox’s comments have raised more questions about Robinson’s ideology and motive than answers.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/us/kirk-shooting-suspect-ideology-partner.html