On Tuesday, Sep. 16 2025, Tyler Robinson texted his roommate after the shooting at Utah Valley University campus.
Robinson reached out to his transgender roommate through text messages, telling him to check under his keyboard. The roommate informed investigators that Robinson had left a note under his keyboard, reading “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” Robinson planned to grab the rifle he used to shoot Kirk with, from his drop point, but the town was locked down. Authorities covered the area in search of Charlie Kirk’s shooter. According to the Utah County Attorney, Robinson will be charged with aggravated murder and an offense that is eligible for the death penalty.
Just moments after the shooting, 71 year old George Zinn was arrested after yelling out “I shot him – now shoot me.” Authorities say that Mr. Zinn had “yelled that he was the shooter to allow the actual suspect to flee.” Authorities asked Zinn where the weapon he used to kill Kirk with was, and he responded with, “I am not going to tell you”. Mr. Zinn is in custody, charged with possession of child sex abuse material. Sheriff Smith claimed that Zinn is being held for the sexual exploitation of a minor, investigators found more than 20 images of children “in various stages of undress and sexual posing.” A judge ordered that George Zinn will be held without bail, referring to Mr. Zinn as a “substantial danger” to the community. Mr. Zinn also has a background of other crimes, he was involved in an arrest in 2013 for sending a threatening email to the hosts of the Salt Lake City Marathon prior to the Boston Marathon bombing. The New York Times reported. “He showed up frequently to public forums with the intention to disrupt the event or questioning a high-profile speaker.’’
Robinson grew up in southern Utah city, Washington. He lived with both parents, his mom was a social worker and his dad was a police officer and kitchen fitter. According to Independent news, people often described Robinson as “quiet” He was a straight-A student. Robinson’s grandmother claims she has never heard Tyler speak of politics.
”Most of my family members are Republican. I don’t know any single one who’s a Democrat. I’m just so confused,” Robinson’s grandmother, Debbie Robinson, told the Daily Mail. Robinson dressed in a Trump costume for Halloween of 2017, and posted it on social media. Robinson attended Dixie Technical College in St. George, Utah, he received a resident presidential scholarship at Utah State University, but only attended for one year, before transferring to Dixie Tech.
Tyler Robinson’s messages
Robinson: drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.
Roommate: What???????????? You’re joking, right????
Robinson: I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.
Roommate: You weren’t the one who did it right????
Robinson: I am, I’m sorry
Roommate: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: no, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. It’s quiet, almost enough to get out, but there’s one vehicle lingering.
Roommate: Why?
Robinson: Why did I do it?
Roommate: Yeah
Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.
Robinson: If I am able to grace 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 have 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 back 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 (expletive) will 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 [expletive] 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 [expletive] sucks…. judging from today I’d say grandpas gun does just fine idk. I think that was a $2k scope;-;
Robinson: delete this exchange
Robinson: my dad wants photos of the rifle … he says grandpa wants to know who has what, the feds released a photo of the rife, and it is very unique. Hes calling me rn, not answering.
Robinson: since Trump got into office (my dad) had been pretty diehard maga.
Robinson: Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff.
Robinson: you are all i worry about love
Roommate: I’m much more worried about you
Robinson: don’t talk to the media please. don’t take any interviews or make any comments. … if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent
