I heard this on NPR this morning...yes we listen to it early AM (although it does evoke some talking back to the radio, LOL.)
My take was NPR is trying to “tone down” or backpedal to a more neutral evaluation of the killer (i.e. he was not politically motivated.) Definitely breaking lockstep with other liberal views and outlets.
In evaluating the shooter's politics, here are the left's choices in their order of preference: