THE suspect accused of assassinating Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk was a star student who secured an elite scholarship years before his arrest.

High-achiever Tyler Robinson, 22, earned a presidential scholarship only offered to top applicants at a state university before he abruptly dropped out and took a political turn.

Suspected shooter Tyler Robinson was awarded a full-ride scholarship to a major university years before he was arrestedCredit: Facebook

Robinson is accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie KirkCredit: AFP

He was arrested on Thursday night following a 30-hour manhuntCredit: Reuters
In 2021, the southern Utah native attended Utah State University in Logan, approximately two hours from Salt Lake City, for one semester, the school confirmed.

Before he moved to campus, his mom posted a video of the teenager reading out a letter announcing that he had been awarded the resident presidential scholarship, which covers all tuition and fees.

The teen appeared to be at home and was dressed in a plain maroon t-shirt and jeans as he said, “Congratulations, you have been selected to receive the resident presidential scholarship from Utah State University.”

The letter stated that the scholarship’s value was approximately $32,000 and would apply to all four years os school.

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Robinson’s excited mother screamed out, “Woo!” after the teen read the note, and he joined her in celebration.

According to the university’s website, students applying for the 2025-26 school year must have a minimum 3.75 high school GPA and a 33 on the ACT or 1450 on the SAT to earn the top-tier scholarship.

SHOOTING HORROR

Kirk, 31, was killed on Wednesday afternoon as he hosted an outdoor Q&A at Utah Valley University in Orem with his multi-million dollar nonprofit Turning Point USA.

The influential activist brought a massive crowd to the event, where he debated with students and shared his conservative takes on current events and policy issues.

Mugshot of Charlie Kirk suspect Tyler Robinson, 22, is revealed after dad turned him in and ‘sick plot messages found’

Robinson was arrested on Thursday night in his hometown St. George, about 250 miles away from the shooting scene, after a family friend reported him to the cops.

On Friday, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said the suspect allegedly plotted the assassination extensively online and wrote hateful messages on bullets found in the believed murder weapon.

Four cartridges were uncovered in the hunting rifle that was found in a wooded area near a gravel-filled rooftop where the shooter is believed to have taken aim at Kirk.

One bullet casing read, “Oh, Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao Ciao Ciao,” which are lyrics to a popular Italian anti-fascist song sung during World War II.

Another said, “Hey fascist! Catch!”

Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday when he was killed by a single gunshotCredit: AP

Investigators believe the shooter camped out on the roof of a building 200 yards awayCredit: AFP

The FBI released eerie surveillance images of the suspect before he was capturedCredit: FBI Salt Lake City

Robinson attended Utah State University for one semester in 2021 before dropping outCredit: Social Media

ONLINE ‘PLOT’

Cox said that a Discord user associated with the name Tyler chatted with online pals about the shooting plot, including potential drop-off points for the rifle.

In one message sent after the shooting, the user told a friend that he had changed his clothes and was evading cops.

Family members said that Robinson had gotten more political in recent months.

One relative who had dinner with him before Wednesday said that he mentioned Kirk by name and discussed disagreeing with his viewpoints.

Other posts on Robinson’s mom’s Facebook depict the suspect as a happy teenager who enjoyed spending time with family and hunting.

In one now-disturbing picture, he appeared to be holding up a massive gun at a show.

And in another post in 2017, Cox wore a Halloween costume that made him look like he was sitting on Trump’s shoulders.

TRUMP’S FURY

Trump fumed over left-wing extremists and blamed them for political violence when he was asked about Kirk’s shooting.

“We have radical left lunatics out there and we just have to beat the hell out of them,” he said in an interview with Fox and Friends on Friday.

Trump said that he and his supporters are encouraging “nonviolence” and hope that Republicans will dominate in the next round of elections.

When he was asked about the political schism in the US, Trump said, “The radicals on the right oftentimes are radical because they don’t want to see crime.

“The radicals on the left are the problem, and they’re vicious and they’re horrible and they’re politically savvy.”

Kirk is survived by his wife Erika and their two young children.

After speaking with the widowed mom, Trump said that she is “absolutely devastated.”