Utah Governor: Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin ‘Deeply Indoctrinated with Leftist Ideology’
Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed Friday that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,” according to findings from the preliminary investigation.
Cox revealed the details in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and later during a press conference, stressing that Robinson’s radical political views have become “very clear to us and to the investigators.”
Robinson allegedly opened fire Wednesday from a rooftop perch at Utah Valley University, killing Kirk, 31, with a single shot to the neck as he addressed students during the kickoff of his American Comeback Tour.
Cox noted that Robinson had openly discussed his hatred for Kirk at a recent family dinner, musing about the conservative leader’s visit to the Orem campus — located about three hours from Robinson’s home in southern Utah. “They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had,” Cox said.
Investigators also discovered chilling evidence at the scene of the assassination. Bullet casings recovered near Robinson’s sniper position were engraved with a series of disturbing messages, including:
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“If you read this, you are gay lmao.”
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“Bella Ciao” — an Italian anti-fascist anthem later popularized on TikTok.
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“Hey fascist! Catch!”
Authorities said the bizarre engravings reflected a blend of internet meme culture and militant left-wing symbolism.
The revelations confirm what conservatives had long suspected — that Kirk’s assassination was not a random act, but a politically motivated killing carried out by a radicalized young man steeped in leftist ideology.
Governor Cox and President Donald Trump have both vowed that Robinson will face the death penalty if convicted.