WASHINGTON CITY, Utah − As investigators work to understand the motive of Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the slaying of Charlie Kirk, neighbors and those who knew the 22-year-old said they would have “never expected” him to be accused of murder.

Authorities took Robinson into custody the morning of Sept. 12 and accused him of shooting the conservative activist at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on Sept. 10.

“He was always very quiet, had just a few friends,” said Kristin Schwiermann, who said she's known the family for decades. “I think he was more on the musical side, very smart.”

Robinson was charged Sept. 12 with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice in Utah County court according to court records obtained by USA TODAY.

In the hours after the arrest, the scene outside Robinson's family home was eerily quiet. His family lives in a two-story gray home in Washington City, a community nestled among Utah’s soaring red, rocky cliffs.

A crowd of reporters gathered across the street from the home, but few other people were out and about. A Domino’s delivery car, with an order for the Robinson house, was among the few cars which drove down the road.

Police officers in vehicles parked in front of the house directed people to stay away from the property. One of the officers delivered the single pizza box to the Robinson’s front door.

Neighbors who were standing nearby described the Robinson family as active in the community and involved with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many knew the children from school and church activities and said they never suspected anything unusual. Tyler, they said, had two brothers.

Schwiermann said she has lived two doors down from Robinson family for the last 16 years but has known them longer. As a head custodian with the Washington County School District, she said she watched Tyler Robinson and his brothers grow up. She often crossed paths with the family at church and school events.

Schwiermann said she believes social media may have played a role in shaping Robinson’s views.

“There’s just too much hate out there,” she said. “I know he wasn’t taught those things. I have no hate for him. Even though I loved Charlie Kirk, I’d rather try to understand what was going on in his mind.”

She described the suspect’s mother, Amber, as “a very beautiful, sweet woman” and said she was heartbroken for the family. Adding to the shock, Schwiermann said her own grandson had been at the Charlie Kirk event.

“My feeling was, at least it wasn’t a mass shooting,” she said. “The funny thing is my daughter is actually hosting an event for mental health. It just makes you think.”

Robert Sylvester, another longtime neighbor, said he knew the suspect from small interactions over the years. Once, Sylvester recalled, Tyler helped him look for a water shutoff valve after a leak.

“He was quiet − we didn’t really communicate back and forth,” Sylvester said. “A lot of people call that politeness. He was so introverted I didn’t look at it as polite, I looked at is as off, or strange.”

He remembered seeing the Robinson brothers doing the typical things kids in the neighborhood did, like racing down the street.

“Never expected it,” Sylvester said. “It just tears me apart.”

Contributing: Nick Penzenstadler, USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Neighbors of Charlie Kirk murder suspect recall a ‘quiet,’ ‘smart’ kid

Reporting by David DeMille and Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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