Neighbours of Charlie Kirk shooting suspect speak out after grandmother voices ‘confusion’ over killing
The neighbours of suspected Charlie Kirk shooter, Tyler Robinson, have spoken out about the 22-year-old.
Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on Wednesday (10 September), after a bullet pierced his neck just 20 minutes into a 'Turning Point USA' event held at Utah Valley University, with over 3,000 present.
The 31-year-old was rushed to hospital by his security team, though he would ultimately pass away, as was confirmed by President Donald Trump, who mourned the death of his ally on Truth Social.
A manhunt would ensue, and after just 33 hours, authorities confirmed in a press conference on Friday (12 September) that Robinson had been arrested after someone 'close' to him turned him in to the authorities.
Advert
An update on the investigation was also issued by the FBI today (15 September), finding a DNA match to Robinson on the towel covering the murder weapon, where it was ditched.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed this discovery, as well as an alleged note from Robinson that said that he had a chance to 'take out Charlie Kirk' and he was 'going to take it'.
DNA found on the bolt-action hunting rifle itself is also currently being analysed to confirm more links to the suspect.
Authorities had previously uncovered disturbing messages between Robinson and his friends following Kirk's death, while the Utah governor Spencer Cox claimed that the suspect is 'deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology', according to friends and family.
Robinson is currently in custody and is reportedly 'not co-operating' with authorities.
His grandmother, Debbie Robinson, claims she had 'never' heard her grandson discussing politics despite his father's support for Trump, as she explained to The Daily Mail: “My son, his dad, is a Republican for Trump, most of my family members are Republican. I don't know any single one who’s a Democrat. I'm just so confused.”
It was reported that it was his father who turned the suspect in to the authorities.
Speaking about Tyler, Debbie said: “I don't think he ever shot a gun, to tell you the truth, He doesn't hunt, he's never liked anything like that. I know he doesn't own any guns.”
“There's just no way he could have been that good of a shot,” she claimed, adding that there was also 'no way he could be violent' after seeing him grow up.
It's believed that he had become more politically involved in more recent years, authorities have claimed, and now neighbours have spoken about the 22-year-old's arrest.
Addi Jacobson, 20, told the BBC: "It shakes up a community because you don't expect it."
While she didn't know the family, her grandmother did, as Addi added: "She just was saying that she thinks that, from what she's seen and what she knows, they're a great family, just regular citizen, she used the words, 'very patriotic people'."
She said she 'never knew' that someone near her was 'capable of something like this'.
An anonymous neighbour described Robinson as a 'pretty quiet kid', while calling his dad a 'hard worker' and his mum 'an amazing parent'.
"That just even goes to show, you can be an amazing parent, and your kid still just chooses what they choose," they stated.
Sherri Steele, another neighbour, showed the publication a video which apparently belonged to the authorities, with someone heard shouting 'Freeze! Come out now!'
"It just kind of blows your mind, coming up the street and all the sudden there are helicopters above your house," the neighbour said.
Governor Cox even said the Robinsons were a 'good family' while the suspect had a 'normal childhood', as he went on: "All of those things that you would hope would never lead to something like this. And sadly, it did."
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Crime, Politics, US News, Tyler Robinson
Joshua Nair