Utah Governor Says Accused Shooter Is Silent, But Those Around Him Are Talking

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has confirmed that Tyler Robinson, the man charged in the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, is refusing to cooperate with investigators. However, Cox said, people close to Robinson — including his family and his romantic partner — are cooperating fully with the FBI.

“He has not confessed to authorities. He is not cooperating, but all the people around him are cooperating, and I think that’s very important,” Cox told reporters. He also disclosed that Robinson’s live‑in partner is transgender and transitioning from male to female, and that this partner is aiding in the investigation.

Cox reiterated a point he has voiced before: that Robinson was “deeply indoctrinated in leftist ideology.” He said that information comes from interviews with those close to Robinson and that further details would emerge when formal charges are filed.

Arrest, Identity, and Family Ties

Robinson, age 22, was taken into custody Thursday evening. Authorities say he was identified by his father, who recognized Robinson in FBI-released photos tied to the shooting at Utah Valley University the previous week.

Cox said that although Robinson’s family holds conservative views, Robinson’s personal ideology had diverged sharply. “He does come from a conservative family. But his ideology was very different than his family,” Cox told Meet the Press.

In conversations with media outlets, Cox hinted that more will be revealed after charges are formally announced, including recordings or messages linking Robinson to plotting against Kirk. He said those revelations will come “when the charges drop.”

Motives, Radicalization, and Social Media

The governor has framed Robinson’s alleged radicalization as part of a broader cultural problem, with social media squarely in the crosshairs. “I believe social media has played a direct role in every single assassination and attempt we’ve seen in the past five or six years. There is no question in my mind,” Cox said.

He called the algorithms that drive online engagement worse than “cancer,” arguing their invisible pressures have inflicted deep harm, especially on youth. He praised Utah for being the first state in the country to pass “comprehensive reform” aimed at reining in online harms.

The Partner’s Role, Health Watch, and Detention

Cox provided more detail about Robinson’s partner, calling them a romantic partner and confirming their transgender transition. He said they had been cooperative and claimed they were unaware of the shooting plans before Robinson’s arrest.

Robinson is being held under “special watch” in the Utah County Sheriff’s Department pending a mental health evaluation. The special housing is meant to allow authorities to monitor him more closely and manage security concerns while assessments proceed.

Despite being on the run for 33 hours, he was ultimately located by law enforcement after his father recognized him in surveillance images released by the FBI. Reports indicate that Robinson told his father he planned to kill himself, which may have played a role in the father turning Robinson in. Before doing so, the elder Robinson supposedly consulted a preacher known to the family.

New Forensic Evidence and Texts

Federal investigators have also tied Robinson to forensic evidence. Kash Patel, Director of the Bureau of Investigation (BI), disclosed a text exchange between Robinson and a close associate. In the messages, the suspect supposedly admitted he had a chance to “take out Charlie Kirk” and intended to do so.

Patel also revealed that DNA evidence linked Robinson to a screwdriver left on a rooftop near the crime scene, and that DNA from a towel used to wrap the rifle matched Robinson’s. These details were shared during a media interview on Fox & Friends.