Demographics of Gun Violence

[Duneranger]

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, but especially between Robinson and his father, who have 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.

The charging documents are hosted by Deseret News.

Police interviewed Robinson’s roommate and the roommate shared with the police text exchanges with Robinson.

Robinson told his roommate to look for a note under Robinson’s keyboard. The note stated “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” Police retrieved a photograph of that note. Other reports indicated the original note had been destroyed.

Robinson texted his roommate ornate messages about their love, but the roommate appeared shocked about the attack: “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????” The roommate is not quoted saying anything supporting the attack, nor opposing it. The roommate asks Robinson for information. After Robinson says he’s worried about the roommate, the roommate said he’s more worried about Robinson. Other reports state the roommate has been “extremely cooperative” with police.

In their texting:

Roommate: Why?
Robinson: Why did I do it?
Roommate: Yeah
Robinson: 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.
…
Roommate: How long have you been planning this?
Robinson: 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 wanna chance it
…
Robinson: 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 grandpas rifle … idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits. didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with. … I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the fuck will I explain losing it to my old man. …
only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel. …
remember how I was engraving bullets? The fuckin messages are mostly a big meme, if I see “notices bulge uwu” on fox new I might have a stroke
alright im gonna have to leave it, that really fucking sucks. …

Robinson soon confessed to his parents. He indicated suicidality, but his parents convinced him to talk to a family friend who was a retired deputy sheriff. The conversation between Robinson, his parents, and the retired deputy sheriff convinced Robinson to turn himself in.

I accept his mother’s account that he “had started to lean more to the left – becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented” “over the last year or so.”

He seems candid when he tells his roommate that he had been planning the act for “a bit over a week I believe.”

I suspect he knew that he was committing murder and that murder is wrong, having mental capacity for criminal responsibility. But he seemed profoundly deluded about the large and small consequences of the act.

There’s no evidence to date he was radicalized by an external promoter or promoters of political or religious violence.

It’s a reasonable hypothesis, though not proven, that he imagined the act as a grandiose romantic gesture, which his roommate then rebuffed.

The trans person in the picture, his roommate, has been “extremely cooperative” with the investigation. His roommate specifically violated Robinson’s text instructions to “delete this exchange” and “if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent.” It is good that Robinson’s parents and family friend convinced him to turn himself in.

What is the evidence to support that it was a romantic gesture? This is as silly as the MSNBC contributor (fired) who said it was maybe a supporter shooting in celebration.

Again, "having enough of his hatred" is a pretty big reason to conclude it was political in nature, especially considering the other comments made by the family.

Obviously unhinged, in a gay/trans relationship, likely drifted to the left, which countered his conservative family's values. Kirk's words likely countered his worldview, promoting his feeling of anger and the eventual act of murder. Not rocket science.