The communications director for Arizona’s top cop spread misinformation on Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Attorney General Kris Mayes’ communications director, Richie Taylor, indicated in a post on X that Kirk was killed by a groyper in the hours following his shooting.
“Lots of people learning about groyper’s [sic] tonight because of the violence on the right in this country,” said Taylor.
He is the Arizona Attorney General's director of communications. pic.twitter.com/Ma5CX1Qx5H
— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) September 17, 2025
Groypers are those considered activists further right than mainstream conservatives aligned under pundit Nick Fuentes. Although they share certain beliefs with right-wingers and conservatives on immigration, Christianity, LGBTQ+ ideology, and DEI policies, some groypers believe in shaping policy around the supremacy of the white race. Often, groypers use variants of the Pepe the Frog meme as identifiers.
Following public awareness of this post, Taylor deleted his X.com account.
The individual charged with Kirk’s assassination, Utah resident Tyler Robinson, is a 22-year-old man who, leading up to the shooting, was in a relationship with another man. Robinson’s partner identified as a transgender woman and a “furry.”
Ammunition recovered near the scene of the assassination had inscriptions aligned with left-wing ideology. One bullet read, “Hey fascist! Catch!”
Another bullet bore the lyrics of an anti-fascist theme song.
Robinson is registered to vote as a nonpartisan in the state. A family member told investigators that Robinson became “more political in recent years” and especially despised Kirk. That family member said Robinson believed Kirk was “full of hate” and “spreading hate.”
Robinson’s lover, Lance Twiggs, allegedly knew nothing of the planned assassination until Robinson texted Twiggs to recover a note under his keyboard.
The note read: “I have an opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” Police found a photo of the note.
Similarly, the charging documents released on Tuesday stated that Robinson’s mother told law enforcement that Robinson, who grew up attending the Mormon church, had become more politically left in the last year or so. Specifically, his mother summarily said Robinson became “more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented.”
Robinson’s mother confirmed early reports that her son was dating his roommate, a biological male transitioning to female.
Robinson’s father confronted Robinson about the assassination after seeing news reports of the surveillance image of the suspected shooter and the photos of the rifle recovered near the assassination site.
According to Robinson’s parents, Robinson confessed to them and said he committed the assassination because, as the report summarized, “there is too much evil and the guy [Charlie Kirk] spreads too much hate.” Robinson’s parents convinced Robinson to turn himself in and not commit suicide.
Kirk was a Christian. He is survived by his wife, Erika Kirk, and their two children.
Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder, discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, tampering with a witness, and violent offense committed in the presence of a child. Should prosecutors secure the death penalty, Robinson could face the same end he gave to Kirk: death by the gun. Utah is one of only two states with the firing squad as an approved method of execution.
Taylor previously used his X account to go after mothers supportive of school choice.
🚨Update: the Head of Communications for @AZAGMayes , @richietaylor – has deleted posts against me which were extremely aggressive, untrue, unprovoked and vicious ad hominem attacks.
I make policy arguments supported by available facts, they prefer to personally attack people. pic.twitter.com/qkeXlqG9KU
— Jenny Clark (@ClarkRimsza) August 31, 2025