- Police continue investigating Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 shooting at Utah Valley University.
- Greg Shaffer, ex-FBI agent, suggests investigators are befriending suspect Robinson for information.
- Conflicting reports and theories circulate; FBI Director Patel defends agency's investigation process.
SALT LAKE CITY — A St. George man has already been arrested and charged with killing Charlie Kirk, but police are still working to find out more about what led up to the Sept. 10 shooting at Utah Valley University. And one aspect of their investigation may be surprising, according to a former federal law enforcer.
"It's probably very different than what most people think is happening — that the FBI is in there trying to grill him and everything else," said Greg Shaffer, a retired FBI special agent.
Shaffer told KSL in a recent interview that investigators have likely tried to coax information from the 22-year-old Robinson himself, and to do that, they've been trying to develop a relationship with him.
"They're becoming friends with him," Shaffer said. "They are treating him with kid gloves. That's how you get information."
In addition to his career in law enforcement, Shaffer is also a past director of security for Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA. He told KSL he believes there were lapses in security at the event that left Kirk and his audience vulnerable to threats like a shooting.
In the hours after Kirk's death, conflicting reports caused confusion: Utah officials said they were still looking for the shooter, while FBI Director Kash Patel announced a "subject" was in custody. Patel later clarified that the person was released and the search was still on.
Shaffer said missteps aren't surprising in the initial hours of a manhunt, but they can affect credibility.
"It wasn't a good look for a bureau who's, you know, trying hard to gain back the faith and trust of the American public," Shaffer said.
He noted many theories are circulating about evidence in the case — including about a rifle recovered by police, how Robinson got away, and about messages he's accused of sending after the shooting. Shaffer said while cases like these take time to properly investigate, law enforcement could help put those speculations to rest — by saying what exactly they believe happened.
The White House and the FBI have stood by the agency's handling of the case, with Patel saying in a social media post, "We are meticulously investigating theories and questions."
Robinson is scheduled to return to court in Provo next week. A voicemail KSL left for the Utah County Public Defender Association, which a judge assigned to represent him, was not immediately returned.
