By NICHOLAS RICCARDI and JOSH BOAK
WASHINGTON (AP) — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox stated Sunday that investigators will not be prepared to debate the motive behind the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. However he stated the 22-year-old suspect had left-leaning political opinions and disliked the conservative influencer.
“Clearly a leftist ideology,” Cox informed NBC’s “Meet the Press.” On CNN’s “State of the Union,” he stated, “That info comes from the folks round him, his members of the family and buddies.”
Cox stated Robinson is “not cooperating” and that buddies paint an image of somebody radicalized at midnight corners of the web. “Clearly there was numerous gaming happening,” Cox stated on NBC. “Associates have confirmed that there was form of that deep, darkish web, the Reddit tradition, and these different darkish locations of the web the place this individual was going deep.”
A Republican who’s referred to as on all partisans to tone down their rhetoric following the assault, the governor added: “I actually don’t have a canine on this struggle. If this was a radicalized MAGA individual, I’d be saying that as properly.”
Cox confused on a number of Sunday morning information reveals, nevertheless, that investigators are nonetheless making an attempt to pin down a motive for the assault on the daddy of two and Trump confidant, who was killed Wednesday whereas on one in every of his signature school talking excursions at Utah Valley College. The governor stated extra info could come out as soon as the suspect, Tyler Robinson, seems in courtroom Tuesday.
The governor stated the suspect’s companion was transgender, which some politicians have pointed to as an indication Robinson was concentrating on Kirk for his anti-trans views. However authorities haven’t stated whether or not it’s related as they examine Robinson’s motive.
“The roommate was a romantic companion, a male transitioning to feminine,” Cox stated. “I can say that he has been extremely cooperative, this companion has been very cooperative, had no concept that this was taking place.”
Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s family and carried out a search warrant at his household’s house in Washington, about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of Utah Valley College, the place the taking pictures came about.
State information present Robinson is registered to vote however not affiliated with a political social gathering and is listed as inactive, which means he didn’t vote within the two most up-to-date normal elections. His dad and mom are registered Republicans.
Ammunition discovered with the weapon used to kill Kirk was engraved with taunting, anti-fascist and meme-culture messages. Court docket information present that one bullet casing had the message, “Hey, fascist! Catch!”
Robinson grew up round St. George, within the southwestern nook of Utah between Las Vegas and pure landmarks together with Bryce Canyon and Zion Nationwide Parks.
Robinson grew to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recognized broadly because the Mormon church, at a younger age, church spokesperson Doug Andersen stated.
Robinson has two youthful brothers, and his dad and mom have been married for about 25 years, in accordance with social media posts. On-line exercise by Robinson’s mom displays an energetic household that took holidays to Disneyland, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Alaska.
Like many in that a part of Utah, they ceaselessly hung out open air — boating, fishing, using ATVs, zip-lining and goal taking pictures. A 2017 publish reveals the household visiting a navy facility and posing with assault rifles. A younger Robinson is seen smiling as he grips the handles of a .50-caliber heavy machine gun.
A highschool honor roll scholar who scored within the 99th percentile nationally on standardized checks, he was admitted to Utah State College in 2021 on a prestigious tutorial scholarship, in accordance with a video of him studying his acceptance letter that was posted to a member of the family’s social media account.
However he attended for just one semester, in accordance with the college. He’s presently enrolled as a third-year scholar within the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical School in St. George.
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Riccardi reported from Denver.
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