The grandmother of Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has cast serious doubt on his involvement. Speaking to The Daily Mail, she described her grandson as shy, apolitical, and incapable of violence, contradicting authorities’ claims that he had grown increasingly political before the Utah shooting.
Grandmother Voices Doubts
Debbie Robinson, 69, said she cannot believe her grandson could commit such an act. “There is no way that he could have done anything like that. I would cross my heart and promise that there was absolutely no way,” she insisted. Debbie described him as “the shyest person” and a “very good kid” who never got into trouble.
Conservative Family Background
Robinson emphasized that her family leans Republican, with her son Matt, Tyler’s father, being an ardent Trump supporter. “Most of my family members are Republican. I don’t know any single one who’s a Democrat,” she said, underscoring her confusion about the accusations. She also revealed her son turned Tyler over to authorities, but has not returned her calls since.
Conflicting Gun Claims
While Debbie maintained her grandson never liked firearms and “never, ever shot a gun,” photos on Facebook reportedly show him holding an M2 Browning .50 caliber machine gun. She dismissed the idea that Tyler could have been skilled enough to carry out the precise shooting. “He doesn’t hunt; he’s never liked anything like that. I know he doesn’t own any guns.”
Doubts About Motive
Debbie also rejected suggestions that politics could have motivated the attack. “He has never, ever spoken politics to me at all,” she told The Daily Mail. She added she was unaware of any mental health struggles and stressed her belief that Tyler had no capacity for violence. “He’s just a very shy, good kid,” she said.
Sympathy for Kirk’s Family
Despite defending her grandson, Debbie expressed compassion for Charlie Kirk’s loved ones. “I was sad, very sad for the wife. I read a bunch about it,” she said, admitting she had never heard of Kirk before the tragedy.
Authorities Point to Politics
In contrast to the grandmother’s account, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Robinson had recently expressed political views to family members, even mentioning Kirk before the shooting. “They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had,” Cox revealed. Investigators maintain that Robinson became more politically active in recent years.
The Case Against Robinson
Tyler Robinson is accused of fatally shooting Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. He remains jailed without bail, facing multiple charges. Authorities say ammunition casings recovered after the attack bore political messages, adding weight to suspicions of ideological motivation.