Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray offered significant details on Tyler Robinson’s political views, and how his family and boyfriend reacted to his alleged shooting of Charlie Kirk last week. He says Robinson’s mother recognized him in photos released by the FBI, his father and grandfather recognized pictures of the gun recovered at the scene, and in a series of text messages to his roommate/boyfriend, Robinson admitted to basically every element of the plot. Gray also detailed about the parents said Robinson “had become more political and had started to lean more to the left, becoming more pro-gay and trans rights oriented” after his boyfriend started to transition genders.

COUNTY ATTORNEY JEFF GRAY: Robinson’s mother stated to police that on September 11th, the day after the shooting, she saw the photo of the shooter in the news and thought the shooter looked like her son. She called him and asked where he was. He said he was at home sick, and that he had also been at home sick on September 10th. Robinson’s mother expressed concern to her husband that the suspected shooter looked like their son. Robinson’s father agreed. Robinson’s mother explained that over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political and had started to lean more to the left, becoming more pro–gay and trans–rights oriented. She stated that Robinson began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders. This resulted in several discussions with family members, especially between Robinson and his father, who had very different political views. In one conversation before the shooting, Robinson mentioned that Charlie Kirk would be holding an event at UVU, which Robinson said was a stupid venue for the event. Robinson accused Kirk of spreading hate. Robinson’s father reported that when his wife showed him the surveillance image of the suspected shooter in the news, he agreed that it looked like their son. He also believed that the rifle police suspected the shooter used matched a rifle that had been given to his son as a gift. As a result, he contacted his son and asked him to send a photo of the rifle. Robinson did not respond. However, his father spoke to him by phone. Robinson implied that he planned to take his own life. His parents convinced him to meet at their home. As they discussed the situation, Robinson implied that he was the shooter and stated that he couldn’t go to jail and just wanted to end it. When asked why he did it, Robinson explained, There is too much evil, and the guy-referring to Charlie Kirk-spreads too much hate. They talked about Robinson turning himself in and convinced him to speak with a family friend who was a retired deputy sheriff. At Robinson’s father’s request, the family friend met with Robinson and his parents and convinced him to turn himself in. The friend spoke to police and reported that he told Robinson it would be best if he brought all evidence with him to the sheriff’s office to avoid police having to search his parents’ home. The friend also asked Robinson if he had any clothes related to what he did. Robinson replied that he had disposed of the clothes in different areas. Police interviewed Robinson’s roommate, a biological male who was in a romantic relationship with him. The roommate told police that he had received messages from Robinson about the shooting and provided those messages. On September 10, 2025, the roommate received a text from Robinson that said, Drop what you’re doing. Look under my keyboard. The roommate looked under the keyboard and found a note that stated, I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it. Police found a photograph of this note. The following text exchange then took place: The roommate responded, What? You’re joking, right? Robinson replied, I am still OK, my love, but am stuck in a for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle. Still, to be honest, I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you. The roommate asked, You weren’t the one who did it, right? Robinson said, I am. I am, I’m sorry. The roommate replied, I thought they caught the person. Robinson said, No, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. It’s quiet-almost enough to get out-but there’s one vehicle lingering. The roommate asked, Why? Robinson replied, Why did I do it? I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again. Hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it. The roommate asked, How long have you been planning this? Robinson answered, A bit over a week, I believe. I can get close to it, but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t want to chance it. I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle. I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back Grandpa’s rifle. If it had a serial number, it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints. I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits; I didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with me. I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. How the f- will I explain losing it to my old man? The only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel. Remember how I was engraving bullets. The AFIN messages are mostly a big meme. If I see notice ‘bullet UWU’ on Fox News, I might have a stroke. I’m gonna have to leave it. That really effing sucks. Judging from today, I’d say Grandpa’s gun does just fine. IDK. I think that was a $ 2,000 scope. Wink, wink. Robinson then said, Delete this exchange. He added, My dad wants photos of the rifle. He says Grandpa wants to know who has what. The feds released a photo of the rifle, and it is very unique. He’s calling me right now-not answering. Robinson also said, Since Trump got into office, my dad has been pretty diehard MAGA. I’m going to turn myself in willingly. One of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff. The roommate told him, You are all I worry about, love. Robinson responded, I’m much more worried about you. Don’t talk to the media. Please don’t take any interviews or make any comments. If any police ask you questions, ask for a lawyer and stay silent.

Here’s the full statement and press conference:
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