FBI Looking At Who May Have ‘Aided And Abetted’ Kirk Assassin
Federal investigators are probing whether Tyler Robinson — the 22-year-old accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk — acted alone, or whether others aided and abetted his crime.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino told Fox News’ America’s Newsroom that agents are now examining Robinson’s ties to fringe groups, online networks, and even people present at the Utah Valley University event where Kirk was fatally shot in the neck on Sept. 10.
“Multiple Warning Signs” Ignored
“There appear to have been multiple warning signs,” Bongino said, citing evidence that friends, family, and online associates knew Robinson had become increasingly radicalized.
Robinson lived with a transgender boyfriend and was active in online circles, including pro-trans communities, a “furry” subculture, and activist groups like Armed Queers SLC, which abruptly deleted its Instagram account following Kirk’s murder.
Investigators are also looking at gaming platform Steam, where Robinson reportedly connected with political extremists.
Bongino said federal agents are “dropping a lot of paper, a lot of subpoenas” to determine if others provided material support or prior knowledge of the plot.
Timing of the Attack Under Scrutiny
The fatal shot was fired just as Kirk was answering a student’s question about mass shootings involving transgender individuals — a chilling coincidence investigators are now reviewing.
“I don’t want to say conclusively right now if there was a connection or not,” Bongino explained. “It’s not terribly uncommon for [Kirk] to get questions like that. However, we are looking into that.”
Authorities have also confirmed the discovery of unspent shell casings inscribed with pro-trans and Antifa slogans — further fueling suspicion that Robinson’s crime was ideologically motivated.
A Radicalized Young Man
According to prosecutors, Robinson left a written note under his keyboard declaring his intent to “take out Charlie Kirk.”
His transgender partner, identified in court documents as his romantic companion, has cooperated with law enforcement and is not accused of wrongdoing. But one relative told Fox News Digital that the relationship accelerated Robinson’s descent into political extremism:
“I think Tyler got a whole lot worse in the year they have been dating. They are big gamers, and obviously they have that group that influences them. But my gut tells me [the roommate] did more of the influencing.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said Robinson had been “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,” though he was not formally registered with any political party.
Direct Threats Against Kirk
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Robinson sent a text message to another individual stating he had “an opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk” and planned to act on it because of his “hatred for what Charlie stood for.”
With Robinson facing aggravated murder and federal terrorism-related charges, Bongino said the Bureau will pursue every lead to determine whether a larger extremist network helped enable the murder of one of America’s most influential conservative leaders.