Federal investigators say they have found no evidence linking Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to any left-wing groups despite efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to tie the shooting to progressive organizations. Three officials familiar with the probe told NBC News the suspect appeared to act alone, targeting Kirk because he found his ideology “personally offensive.”
Robinson currently faces state charges of aggravated murder and obstruction of justice, with Utah prosecutors seeking the death penalty. Prosecutors said he planned the attack for more than a week and left written and text message evidence of his intent. Federal charges, however, remain uncertain. Because Robinson did not cross state lines and Kirk was not a federal official, prosecutors say it is difficult to find a federal statute under which to prosecute him. There is no stand-alone domestic terrorism law, though sentencing enhancements are sometimes applied.
Former DOJ domestic terrorism counsel Thomas Brzozowski said the FBI is largely assisting state authorities: “The FBI needs a federal hook to initiate an investigation.”
Despite rhetoric from the White House pledging to dismantle “left-wing terror networks,” federal authorities stress that right-wing extremism has historically been the greater threat. According to the Anti-Defamation League, more than 70 percent of extremist attacks and domestic terrorism plots since 2002 have been tied to right-wing ideologies. A Justice Department study released last year — and recently removed from its website — found far-right violence continues to outpace all other forms of domestic extremism.
Kirk’s funeral will be held Sunday in Arizona. Federal agencies are monitoring several “unknown credibility” threats related to the service, though law enforcement officials say there is no evidence of imminent danger.
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