SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
In churches today, people across the country mourned the killing of conservative organizer Charlie Kirk, who was shot Wednesday during a public appearance at Utah Valley University. This morning, in Kirk's home state of Arizona, Pastor Luke Barnett of Dream City Church remembered Kirk.
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LUKE BARNETT: We're here celebrating a young man who did not live a long life, but his impact was massive.
DETROW: Meanwhile, we are learning more about the alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was arrested late Thursday. NPR's Luke Garrett has been following the latest and joins us. Hi, Luke.
LUKE GARRETT, BYLINE: Hey, Scott.
DETROW: So what did we learn today?
GARRETT: So we learned more about Robinson's living situation before the shooting. Utah Governor Spencer Cox told ABC News that Robinson's roommate was a transgender person.
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SPENCER COX: We can confirm that his roommate was indeed a boyfriend who is transitioning from male to female.
DETROW: And look - and that is relevant because, first of all, there had been all sorts of unconfirmed or false information flying around in the early days about Robinson's background, his motivations. And look, this question especially had been a key question, whether there was a motive here based on how Kirk had been critical of transgender rights among many other stances.
GARRETT: That's right. And the governor today says officials are still trying to figure out if this played a role in Robinson's motive - no answers there yet. But Cox confirmed that this roommate, along with Robinson's family, are all assisting authorities in their investigation. Robinson himself, though, has not admitted to the assassination.
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COX: He's not cooperating. But all the people around him are cooperating, and I think that's very important.
GARRETT: Now, without a confession, prosecutors will be building their case. Cox expects more information to be released Tuesday when the FBI forensic report is filed in court, along with charges.
DETROW: Let's talk more about Governor Cox because he's playing an interesting role here. He's really tried to be - even before the shooting - be a leading voice for more peace and calm, especially following this assassination. He made the rounds on Sunday morning TV shows today. What was his message?
GARRETT: That's right, Scott. The Republican governor called Kirk's killing a watershed moment in American history. He said it's time for personal agency and for Americans to ask themselves whether this nation will move towards civility or violence. And the governor also made a point to criticize social media in particular.
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COX: Are we going to find a different path? Are we going to get out of those social media, those dark places of the internet where the conflict entrepreneurs reside, who are preying upon us?
GARRETT: And Cox compared the social media apps to the addictive properties of fentanyl and encouraged Americans to turn towards their real relationships. He said social media companies really profit off conflict and foment it.
DETROW: That's an especially interesting message. I'm wondering how it contrasts to what you're hearing from Washington-based officials.
GARRETT: That's right. Well, it really depends on who you ask. There is a lot of anger in the White House. Many people knew Kirk personally and worked with him often. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said on Friday that, you know, he's really frustrated with people who celebrate Kirk's death. He also told Fox News he's working to dismantle what he called radical left organizations. But over on Capitol Hill, you know, we are hearing some of that GOP outrage but also a lot of fear.
DETROW: Tell me more about that.
GARRETT: So members of Congress have less security than the president and are often in very public spaces, similar to the one where Kirk was in right before he died. And Oklahoma Senator James Lankford said, something has really changed on Capitol Hill. He told CNN that lawmakers have received 14,000 threats in 2025 alone. That's around 50 threats every day.
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FRANK LANKFORD: There are things that are occurring now that are different than what we've seen just two or three years ago. So yeah, we have to pay attention to this.
GARRETT: Lankford, who's also a pastor, said the temperature really needs to be turned down in Capitol Hill and in the White House as people seek peace after this violent killing.
DETROW: Yeah. I mean, there's a lot to keep an eye on. What are you looking at over the next few days as this story plays out?
GARRETT: Two major things - first, FBI Director Kash Patel has hearings on Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is going to be a place where lawmakers are going to ask the director of the FBI, you know, really what happened. Kash Patel sent out two social media posts that gave some confusion over whether the suspect was in custody or wasn't in custody. There's going to be a lot of questions there.
DETROW: Right.
GARRETT: The second thing is there will be a public remembrance in Arizona at the Cardinals' NFL stadium. This is where, you know, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance will be, along with Kirk's wife and two young children.
DETROW: That'll be a key moment to see what the ongoing message is from the Trump administration on this. That is NPR's Luke Garrett. Thank you so much.
GARRETT: Thanks, Scott.
(SOUNDBITE OF ENHYPHEN SONG, "I NEED THE LIGHT") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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