Suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting lived in quiet Utah town: ‘no different than my family’ | Charlie Kirk shooting
The quiet area was like many others in the city of the sun of Washington, in Utah, which is located in the middle of the Mesas Red Rock and the Borderlands of Utah-Arizona.
A few hours earlier, News had announced that the police had arrested a suspect in the murder of Charlie Kirk, the far-right influencer and the co-founder of Turning Point USA.
This suspect was Tyler Robinson, a 22 -year -old student who said he confessed to his family that he had killed Kirk earlier this week.
The public archives have shown that Robinson’s family lived here in Washington, a small town of 35,000 people located about 260 miles (420 km) southwest of Orem, where Kirk was killed during a public event on a university campus. His death resonated around the world and put Utah under national spotlights.
Friday, in the middle of the morning, the streets near the residence were crowded with police vehicles and a row of neat media cameras.
Melissa Tait, 55 years old and mother of four, lives just down the street and said that the Robinson family was “like any other neighbor” and that they were “no different from my family”.
Tait expressed his sympathy for the family, and the gratitude that Robinson was now in detention after his father recognized him in photos and video sequences published by the shooter who escape the scene.
“Unfortunately, their son made a very bad decision,” said Tait.
The details are still emerging on Robinson and a reason for crime. The authorities say that Robinson has been registered with electrical learning at the Dixie Technical College in St George, and briefly attended Utah State University (USU).
Friday, in a telephone interview, someone who described himself as friends with Robinson in high school and who asked to remain anonymous, said that Robinson had expressed feelings that criticized Donald Trump several years ago despite the rest of his family. The friend recognized that he could not be sure of Robinson’s most recent political opinions because they lost contact after obtaining their diploma from Pine View High School. Voting files show that Robinson was not affiliated with a political party before the 2024 elections. His parents were registered Republicans.
Walter Williams, a neighbor who has lived in the same neighborhood for four years but who did not know Tyler personally, expressed his surprise when he learned the news.
“Honestly, I didn’t know he was living here,” said Williams, 33, in an interview with the suburban streets. He called the neighborhood a “safe place”. “Everyone knows each other and takes care of each other,” he said.
By reflecting on the deepening division of the United States and the renewed fears of violence between the opposite sides of the political spectrum, Williams said that as a member of the Mormone Church, he loved what Kirk said. But he also respected everyone’s right to his own opinions.
“I know everyone has their own opinions, that’s quite well. This is what the United States,” said Williams. “Having different opinions and not forcing this on each other, do not withdraw from each other. We can have an open dialogue and we respect each other for our own opinions because we are all different and it is the beauty of being human. ”
Miles Meloni, 14, also lives in the neighborhood. Meloni followed Kirk and said he felt “great pain” for Robinson and Kirk families.
Meloni is alarmed by political violence in the country in which he arrives.
“I want to see a change,” said Meloni. “I think that for people like this, if the family sees a progression to this point of view, they need to injure people, they need to have their child, a family member, friends, whoever is looking for help.”
He hopes that it does not biaise the perception of the people of the state he calls at home.
“It is just not something that, in your opinion, would happen here,” said Meloni. “Do not let that set up on Utah.”
Anna Betts contributed the reports
