Jordan Brann, a former classmate of Tyler Robinson at Pine View High School, shared a TikTok describing his encounters with the suspect in the Charlie Kirk shooting. He said Robinson was “the kind of student who spent excessive time on Reddit” and was heavily involved in internet culture. Brann clarified they weren’t friends but that he often observed him over the years.
The video, which reached over two million views in three days, fueled debates about how “extended exposure to online content can shape extreme beliefs or behaviors.” Brann warned about the risks of online radicalization, especially among young people seeking approval in digital communities.
Other students described Robinson as quiet, intelligent, and active in the band and auto mechanics club. He earned a scholarship to Utah State University and later studied in an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College.
Investigators later found ammunition engraved with memes, political slogans, and cryptic online references, suggesting ideological influence from internet subcultures.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10. Robinson was arrested 34 hours later and now faces aggravated murder charges, with Utah’s governor calling the case “deeply troubling.”
