BREAKING: FBI investigates far-left Utah groups for advanced knowledge of Charlie Kirk assassination: report

Federal and state law enforcement agencies have opened investigations into several leftist groups in Utah to determine whether they had advance knowledge of, or gave support after, the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to multiple sources familiar with the case.

The probe is running parallel to efforts to establish the motive of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who is accused of fatally shooting Kirk during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Six sources told Axios that investigators are examining whether Robinson targeted Kirk because of the activist’s outspoken views on gender identity, which Robinson allegedly believed were “hateful.”

Robinson lived with a trans romantic partner, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed Sunday on ABC’s This Week. That individual, described as “extremely cooperative” with investigators, provided authorities with phone messages in which someone identified as “Tyler” described hiding the rifle used in the shooting in bushes near the campus.

One source told Axios the roommate was “aghast” when learning of Robinson’s alleged role. The roommate responded to investigators by saying, “That’s what happened? Oh my God, no. Here are all the messages.”

Cox said Robinson has not confessed and is refusing to cooperate with authorities.

Investigators are also reviewing the activities of local leftist organizations to assess whether Robinson communicated with them before or after the shooting. At least one such group deleted its social media profile following the incident, Axios reported. Officials want to establish whether anyone in those circles had prior knowledge of Robinson’s plans.

“It’s pretty clear that Robinson’s roommate knew a lot and didn’t say anything after the killing, so they’re a person of interest officially and are cooperating,” one official said. “What we want to know is if anyone else had knowledge [of the shooting], before or after.”

Family members have described Robinson as coming from a conservative household in Utah that supported former President Donald Trump. His mother told the Daily Mail that “most of my family members are Republican. I don’t know any single one who’s a Democrat.”

Gov. Cox said Sunday that Robinson’s views diverged significantly from his family’s and that investigators are trying to determine how he was radicalized. “Clearly there was a lot of gaming going on,” Cox said, adding that friends reported Robinson had been active in “the deep, dark internet, the Reddit culture, and these other dark places.”

Relatives told reporters Robinson had grown “more political” in recent years.