Tyler James Robinson, a 22-year-old from Washington City, Utah, has been charged in connection with the tragic shooting death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Prosecutors allege that Robinson intentionally targeted Kirk due to his political views and have announced their intention to pursue the death penalty.
Tyler Robinsons father, Matt, allegedly turned him in. His mother, Amber, is a social worker. pic.twitter.com/pJiqUb5uEE
— CluckyMcCluckerson (@BockBockBucock) September 12, 2025
Family Involvement & Surrender
According to charging documents, it was actually Robinson’s parents who played a crucial role in his arrest. When police released a photo of the suspect, Robinson’s mother immediately recognized the resemblance to her son.
Despite his claims of being sick at home, she and her husband couldn’t shake the feeling that it was him—especially after noticing the rifle described by police, which was similar to one gifted to him by his grandfather.
Worried that their son might be a danger to himself, the couple kept calling him until he “implied that he was the shooter,” as stated in court papers.
They convinced him to drive 260 miles to their home in southern Utah, where, with the help of a family friend who is a retired deputy sheriff, Robinson agreed to turn himself in. On the night of September 11, he went to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Background & Alleged Motive
Robinson is currently a third-year student in an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College and previously attended Utah State University on a scholarship.
His mother informed investigators that he had shifted towards more left-leaning views over the past year, becoming supportive of gay and trans rights and even dating a transgender roommate, which led to political tensions within the family.
Prosecutors claim that Robinson saw Kirk as someone spreading “too much hate.” In a text sent after the shooting, he allegedly expressed: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Facing seven felony counts, including aggravated murder with a victim-targeting enhancement, Robinson is currently being held without bail at the Utah County Jail as the case unfolds. His parents, both registered Republicans, are grappling with the fallout from their son’s actions.
