Tyler Robinson Charged with Aggravated Murder in Charlie Kirk Killing, Faces Death Penalty

Utah prosecutors filed formal charges against Tyler Robinson on Tuesday, seeking the death penalty for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Charges and Court Proceedings

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced seven charges against the 22-year-old Robinson, including aggravated murder - a capital offense - for fatally shooting Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10. Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

Gray stated during a press conference that the decision to pursue the death penalty was made “independently as county attorney, based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime”. The prosecutor emphasized that Robinson targeted Kirk based on his political expression while knowing children were present and would witness the homicide.

Robinson appeared virtually from Utah County Jail at 5 p.m. ET for his first court hearing. He has been held without bail since his arrest on Friday following a nearly 48-hour manhunt.

Evidence and Investigation

FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that DNA evidence from a towel wrapped around the suspected murder weapon and a screwdriver found at the scene matched Robinson’s profile. Investigators also recovered a bolt-action rifle near the crime scene and found a note at Robinson’s residence expressing intent to “take out” Kirk.

According to charging documents, Robinson fired a single shot from a rooftop sniper position approximately 400 feet from where Kirk was speaking to a crowd of 3,000 attendees. The bullet struck Kirk in the neck, and he died later that day at a nearby hospital.

Digital Footprint and Confession

Robinson allegedly confessed to the shooting in a Discord group chat with about 20 participants, writing “It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all of this,” according to a Discord spokesperson. The messages were sent hours before his arrest and provided investigators with crucial evidence.

Robinson was apprehended at his parents’ home 260 miles from the university after family members contacted law enforcement about his involvement. Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed that Robinson’s father recognized him in FBI photos and convinced him to surrender.

Background and Motive

The 22-year-old Robinson is described as a third-year electrical apprentice at a Utah technical college from Washington, Utah. While authorities have not disclosed a specific motive, Cox mentioned that Robinson had expressed dislike for Kirk, calling him “full of hate and spreading hate”. The governor also noted Robinson’s involvement with “deep, dark internet” and Reddit culture.

Kirk, 31, was co-founder and CEO of the conservative organization Turning Point USA and a close ally of President Trump. His assassination has sparked widespread condemnation of political violence and heightened concerns about rising political tensions in the United States.