Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, became more political and “started to lean more to the left” over the past year, according to his mother.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray on Tuesday said Robinson’s mother offered the information to prosecutors.
“Robinson’s mother explained that, over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political and had started to lean more to the left, becoming more pro-gay and trans rights-oriented,” Gray said at a news conference in which he laid out the charges and some details about the suspect.
“She stated that Robinson began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders,” Gray continued. “This resulted in several discussions with family members, but especially between Robinson and his father, who have very different political views.”
Robinson’s political ideology has become a flashpoint among the right and the left. The right alleges he is a liberal or became “radicalized” as a liberal, blaming the left for Kirk’s murder. Some of the left, meanwhile, have cast doubt on that claim. They allege the Robinson family’s history of conservatism, and his engraved messages on the casings on the rifle he allegedly used to kill Kirk, are proof he is actually conservative.
Robinson, 22, is charged with several crimes, including aggravated murder. Utah prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against him.
