Washington, Utah, located just south-west of Zion National Park, is surrounded by cinematic, flat-topped mountains and has long been a hub for exploring the natural wonders of the American west.
Yet, the last 48 hours have left residents wondering how the portal to the most beautiful parts of the country may have produced one of its ugliest acts of political violence in years.
Tyler Robinson, the man authorities accused of killing the conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University this week, resided in the area, according to police. He is now in custody after his father apparently persuaded him to surrender.
Local and federal law enforcement officers descended on typically quiet blocks in Washington and nearby St George, banging on doors and closing off streets as they carried out a high-stakes investigation.
Outside the Robinson family home in Washington, neighbours expressed shock that a fellow resident could have committed such an attack.
It shakes up a community because you don't expect it, said Addi Jacobson, who recently moved into her grandmother's house in the neighbourhood.
Ms Jacobson did not personally know the Robinson family, but her grandmother did. She just was saying that she thinks that, from what she's seen and what she knows, they're a great family, just regular citizens, Ms Jacobson said. She used the words, 'very patriotic people'.
Another neighbour, who requested anonymity due to the heated nature of the discussions surrounding Mr. Kirk's murder, recalled Tyler Robinson as a pretty quiet kid, noting his family was involved in community activities and occasionally attended a nearby Mormon church.
The woman expressed that while it's a good family, one can’t always predict a child's actions: This is a good family, Utah Governor Spencer Cox told CNN on Saturday. A normal childhood...sadly, it did lead to such an act.
Charlie Kirk was shot on September 10, in front of hundreds of students, leading to widespread condemnation from political leaders across the spectrum.
This incident has not only shocked the local community but has also ignited discussions about political violence and the safety of public figures. As the investigation unfolds, Washington, Utah, finds itself at the center of a significant conversation about the state of politics in America.
