SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) — Tyler Robinson, aged 22, was identified as the suspect in the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Robinson was detained in a special housing facility at Utah County Jail, pending official charges, as reported by the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
Robinson was expected to remain there until he had been “cleared by our medical staff,” a statement from Sgt. Ray Ormond read. The special housing unit reportedly includes being on a special watch protocol with increased supervision.
After receiving medical clearance, Robinson is expected to be “placed in the appropriate housing for the charges he has been booked in on.”
“This is done for various reasons ranging from: the types of crimes you’re booked on, behavioral issues, violent behavior, and/or suicidal comments made during the arrest,” Ormond said. “Once our team evaluates Robinson, he’ll be moved into the appropriate housing unit.”
Robinson was arrested in Washington County, Utah, on aggravated murder, a first-degree felony; felony discharge of a firearm – causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony; and obstruction of justice – capital/first-degree felony conduct, a second-degree felony.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Sunday that Robinson was not cooperating with law enforcement, disliked Kirk, and may have been “radicalized” online.
“There clearly was a leftist ideology,” Cox said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” citing interviews with Robinson’s relatives and acquaintances. “Friends have confirmed that there was kind of that deep, dark internet, the Reddit culture, and these other dark places of the internet where this person was going deep.”
He pointed to references found engraved on the ammunition used to kill Kirk, which included anti-fascist and meme-culture language. Court records show that one bullet casing had the message, “Hey, fascist! Catch!”
A Republican who has called on all partisans to tone down their rhetoric following the attack, the governor added: “I really don’t have a dog in this fight. If this was a radicalized MAGA person, I’d be saying that as well.”
Cox stressed on several Sunday morning news shows, however, that investigators are still trying to pin down a motive for the attack on Kirk, a father of two and Trump confidant. The governor said more information may come out once Robinson appears in court Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
