Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray Seeks Death Penalty for Charlie Kirk Suspect

Lead: Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced charges against 22-year-old Tyler Robinson for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, and declared his intent to pursue the death penalty.

Nut Graf: Gray’s decision underscores growing national concerns over political violence and marks a rare instance of capital punishment being sought in a high-profile murder motivated by ideology.

Charges and Evidence

  • Robinson faces aggravated murder, felony firearm discharge, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
  • DNA matching Robinson was found on the trigger of the bolt-action rifle used in the shooting.
  • Prosecutors allege Robinson climbed onto a campus building roof, fired a single shot from approximately 160 yards and discarded the weapon and clothing while fleeing.

Death Penalty Pursuit

Gray stated that seeking the death penalty was made “independently, based solely on the evidence… and the nature of the crime” and emphasized the gravity of an attack on free speech at a public event.

Incident Overview

Tyler Robinson allegedly shot Kirk in the neck as he addressed a crowd of students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10. Kirk died shortly afterward, prompting a multi-agency manhunt that ended with Robinson’s arrest near St. George two days later.

Reactions and Next Steps

Authorities have held Robinson without bail; his first virtual court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. The decision to pursue capital punishment has drawn both support from those denouncing political violence and criticism from opponents of the death penalty.

Utah law allows capital charges when a murder is deemed especially heinous or targeted for ideological reasons, and Gray has filed enhancements for killing in front of children and for motive based on the victim’s political beliefs.

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