Tyler Robinson was an excellent, church-going child who obtained a prestigious educational scholarship to school earlier than he grew more and more political and fatally focused conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, based on police and neighbors Friday.
Robinson, 22, was a “very good” Mormon, or member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and commonly went to church together with his household when he was younger, mentioned neighbors of his household’s dwelling in Washington, Utah, within the state’s far southwest nook.
“I knew his mother, you already know, simply by church and faculty,” native Kristin Scheiermann informed The Submit, referring to the suspect’s mom, Amber.
Robinson “was very good.
“He was good. I hear he aced his ACTs [pre-college exam]. I hear he had a full-ride scholarship” to school, she mentioned, including that he would get on and off the bus every day to and from Pine View Excessive Faculty.
“He was a sensible child … I used to be shocked this was even him,” she added.
Robinson was admitted to Utah State College whereas receiving the school’s presidential scholarship, the “highest educational scholarship” the college affords, college rep Amanda DeRito informed The Submit.
However the accused killer spent only one semester on the Logan college in fall 2021 earlier than he took a go away of absence for causes the college couldn’t disclose, she mentioned.
Most lately, Robinson was enrolled as a third-year scholar at Dixie Technical Faculty in St. George, Utah, the place he was within the electrical apprenticeship program, faculty officers mentioned.
He had been residing in Washington County when he was taken into custody by authorities after his father satisfied him to show himself in, officers mentioned.
Keep updated on the capturing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
Robinson’s father acknowledged his face when the FBI plastered a grainy photograph of him over the web, sources mentioned.
The involved father confronted his son, who admitted he had fired the one shot that killed Kirk whereas he was talking at Utah Valley College on Wednesday.
When the dad requested Robinson to show himself in, the son mentioned he would somewhat kill himself, sources mentioned.
The daddy inspired his son to talk with their youth minister, who additionally works with the US Marshals Service, sources mentioned. The minister then referred to as the authorities, sources mentioned, and the FBI arrested Robinson early Friday.
Robinson had turn into more and more political lately and ranted simply earlier than killing Kirk that he believed the activist was “filled with hate,’’ officers mentioned Friday.
He was seething about Kirk’s upcoming campus look throughout a dinner days earlier than the occasion, raving about how he “didn’t like [Kirk] and the viewpoints he had,’’ Utah Gov. Spencer Cox mentioned at a press briefing.
A household pal on the dinner had detailed the inflammatory change to investigators, the governor mentioned.
Scheiermann mentioned she believes there are three issues that turned Robinson from a pleasant boy right into a suspected murderer.
“There’s three elements: dangerous mates, affect from social media, social media and psychological well being. And I believe all three of these elements are a part of our downside on this world, and I believe that was it,” she mentioned.
Scheiermann mentioned the neighborhood could be there to help the household by way of their tough time.
Robinson is anticipated to be charged with aggravated homicide amongst different state costs, based on a possible trigger affidavit launched on Friday.
