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'Not Muslim, not an immigrant, not Black': Debates intensify after suspected Charlie Kirk shooter identified

The suspect’s relatives described a shift in his politics, and recovered bullet casings were marked with anti-fascist messages
A TV monitor displays a 12 September picture of Tyler Robinson, who is suspected of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk on 11 September 2025 in Orem, Utah (Patrick T Fallon/AFP)
By MEE staff
Published date: 12 September 2025 20:59 BST | Last update: 2 months 4 weeks ago

Authorities have identified the man suspected of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk as Tyler Robinson, a 23-year-old from Utah, intensifying the debate on social media over Kirk’s killing. 

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent figure on the American right, was shot dead on 10 September in Orem, Utah. He was reportedly turned in by a family member who recognised him in photos shared by the FBI.

Police confirmed Robinson’s identity on Friday, saying he was taken into custody. Officials have not revealed a motive behind the shooting, and an investigation is in progress. 

At a Friday press conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said a relative told investigators that Robinson had “become more political in recent years” and had directed anger at Kirk.

Authorities at the press conference, who have characterised the killing as a “political assassination”, reported finding a rifle and shell casings inscribed with anti-fascist slogans on the north end of Campus Drive at Utah Valley University.

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One read, “Hey fascist! Catch!” while another referenced the Italian resistance song “Bella Ciao,” hinting at the ideological shift described by his family. Another casing read, “If you read this, you’re gay, LMAO,” according to the report shared by Spencer Cox.

All of these new findings about the suspect have sent social media into more frenzy, with thousands of people sharing his childhood photos, his alleged political alliances, and details about his family. 

In the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s death, some of his allies, including President Donald Trump, blamed the killing on the "radical left” for his shooting, without presenting any evidence. That narrative quickly spread in conservative media circles.

However, with Robinson’s name and background now public, online conversations have shifted. Many users pointed out that the suspect does not match the profile some political figures had promoted in the hours after the attack. 

Kirk's killing has also heightened the debate surrounding gun control and violence. Many on social media shared images of Robinson and his family, and how he was introduced to guns at a very young age.  

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on an interview on Fox, where he said, “This is a worldwide problem. The people on the extremes, the Islamists … the radical Islamists and their union with the ultra-progressives, they often speak about human rights. They speak about free speech. But they use violence to try to take down their enemies,” while talking about the killing of Kirk and offering his condolences. 

However, with the unveiling of the suspected killer's identity, many on social media expressed their anger at Netanyahu and at the general discourse of how Muslims or immigrants are too quickly blamed whenever an attack like this happens. 

There is no evidence yet that Tyler himself is a Republican.

Thousands of accounts on social media used the similar phrase, “Not Black. Not Trans. Not Muslim. Not an Immigrant. Not a Democrat,” while talking about Robinson, demonstrating the anger of blaming immigrants or Muslims for such attacks. 

Many have argued that the case highlights how polarised US political debate has become, where pre-packaged political narratives surrounding violence take shape before basic facts are confirmed.

Some also argued that Robinson fits the image of a “perfect MAGA man”, and the irony that it was he, coming from a Christian family with seemingly conservative values, who is a suspect in the killing of a very influential conservative figure.

With Robinson in custody, officials are expected to release more details in the coming days, including possible charges. 

For now, the case has reignited discussions on political violence, misinformation, and the risks of rushing to judgment in an already polarised environment. 

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