When news came out that Tyler Robinson was accused of shooting and killing Charlie Kirk, many people who knew him in high school could not believe it.
To classmates, he was the quiet, smart kid who rarely spoke but always seemed sharp. Now, at 22, he is accused of opening fire during Kirk’s campus event in Utah.
Keaton Brooksby, who went to school with Robinson, said he was stunned. “It’s really sad that someone with his mind put it to that sort of use,” Brooksby said. He remembered Robinson as generally quiet but confident when talking about politics. “He gave us a whole spiel on what happened,” Brooksby recalled. “I just remember thinking, he’s got a lot of information on this for someone who’s 14.”
Robinson’s family often praised him online for his grades and scholarships. In 2021, he won a presidential scholarship worth $32,000 to attend Utah State University. But he only stayed for one semester before leaving school.
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Another former classmate, Adrian Rivera, said Robinson was mostly into video games. “He was a massive Halo guy,” Rivera recalled, adding that he also played Call of Duty. He sometimes hung out with students interested in JROTC, though no one was sure if he was actually part of the program.
Neighbors also described Robinson as distant. People in his apartment complex said he kept to himself, blasting music and driving a gray Dodge Charger. Josh Kemp, 18, said, “He’d never talk to anybody.”
An 11-year-old neighbor, Oliver Holt, remembered Robinson acting nervous at the door one day. “He kept glancing back into his apartment,” Holt explained. “He was acting kind of strange.”
Police now say Robinson fired from a rooftop during Kirk’s speech at Utah Valley University, hitting him in the neck. Engraved bullet casings with anti-fascist messages were later found with the weapon. After a 33-hour manhunt, Robinson surrendered to authorities.
For those who once sat in class with him, the story still feels unreal. Brooksby remembered the last time he saw Robinson at a Walmart, noting how he kept to himself, appeared uncomfortable, and showed no interest in catching up or having a conversation.
Featured image via X screengrab
