Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson's chilling gun obsession in family photos

Investigators have revealed that the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative influencer, had a childhood fascination with firearms.

The suspect, 22 year old Tyler Robinson, was identified on Friday as the man who allegedly shot Kirk during a protest at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

According to family social media posts, Robinson had shown an interest in guns from a young age and frequently visited shooting ranges. Pictures from his teenage years show him posing with a scoped rifle and an M2 Browning. 50 calibre machine gun, and even holding a bazooka in one image.

READ MORE: Tyler Robinson 'spoke about Charlie Kirk with family' at dinner before shooting

READ MORE: Charlie Kirk assassination book 'appears on Amazon day before' Utah shooting

His mother, Amber Robinson, regularly shared photos on Facebook of Robinson and his two younger siblings at military events and shooting ranges. In one post, she is seen proudly holding a US Army machine gun.

In a family photo from Christmas 2017, all dressed in matching red outfits, Tyler Robinson can be seen with a brand-new iPhone, while his brother received a "build it yourself" gun kit, reports the Mirror US.

Another picture from that year, posted by his mother, shows him dressed as Donald Trump for Halloween. On Friday, FBI Director Kash Patel and other officials identified Robinson as the suspected assassin who killed Kirk from a rooftop about 200 yards away using a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle.

Robinson was arrested on Thursday evening in southern Utah, according to law enforcement sources who spoke to the Daily Mail. He lives about 260 miles south of Orem, where Kirk was killed, in a six-bedroom, £600,000 mansion in Washington, Utah.

According to insiders who spoke to the Mail, Robinson confessed to his father, Matt. After allegedly telling his dad that he'd rather top himself than turn himself in, he was persuaded to speak to a local youth pastor who also works for the US Marshals Service.

His mum, Amber Robinson, works for Intermountain Support Coordination Services, a state-contracted firm that helps care for people with disabilities. According to online records, both of his parents are registered Republicans.

Robinson attended Utah State University on a scholarship for just one term in 2021, according to those who spoke to the Daily Mail.

He's been charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Authorities said at a press conference on Thursday evening that Robinson would face the death penalty if found guilty. Utah Governor Spencer Cox began his remarks at a press conference on Friday morning by saying, "We got him.

"The question is, what sort of watershed?" Cox queried, labelling Kirk's murder as a 'watershed point' in American history.

He revealed that Robinson's family had informed detectives that he had recently become more politically active and had expressed his dislike for Kirk, branding him "full of hate."

Follow our live blog for the latest updates by clicking here.