Investigators are piecing together the background of the suspected assassin who gunned down Charlie Kirk.
A friend of Tyler Robinson, 22, revealed that the accused killer shifted sharply to the left in recent years. The individual, who asked not to be named, said he played video games with Robinson during high school and early college years.
He recalled that Robinson expressed hostility toward President Donald Trump. Robinson confided that his entire family supported Trump, which left him feeling alienated in his own household.
The friend said Robinson stood out because of his politics. “Pretty much left on everything” is how he described him. He added, “He was the only member of his family that was pretty leftist.”
Robinson’s parents are both registered Republicans, while records show that Robinson himself registered as an independent. His registration is now listed as inactive, and he never declared an official party.
The friend explained that Robinson’s political radicalization accelerated during his sophomore year of high school. He said Robinson became confrontational and aggressive in debates, as Trending Politics reported.
“He would always be ranting and arguing about them,” the friend said. These arguments often centered on the policies of Trump during his first administration.
The two eventually lost contact after Robinson received a presidential scholarship to attend Utah State University. He enrolled but dropped out after only one semester.
Despite leaving school early, Robinson had a record of academic achievement. According to a neighbor, he scored highly on standardized tests and graduated with college credit from Utah Tech University in 2021.
Kristin Schwiermann, 66, who lives near the family, remembered him as “smart” and capable. She said she never imagined he could carry out such violence.
“Shocked the crap out of me,” she said. “I didn’t think he would have done this.”
Authorities say Robinson lived in Washington, Utah, a strong Republican area that gave 75 percent of its vote to Trump in the 2024 election. His family remains active in the community and maintains conservative affiliations.
Investigators are continuing to gather evidence that ties Robinson to the assassination. Forensic teams collected shoe prints and fingerprints from the roof where he is believed to have set up to take the fatal shot.
Officials believe Robinson used a single round from a common hunting rifle to kill Kirk as he spoke to thousands of students at Utah Valley University. The evidence suggests careful planning rather than a spontaneous act.
The motive is still being examined, but the testimony of his former friend has fueled suspicions that Robinson’s political leanings played a central role. What is clear, investigators say, is that he became increasingly combative in his views as he grew older.
The case against Robinson continues to develop as state and federal authorities work to finalize charges in one of the most shocking political killings in recent history.
