Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, has been formally charged with aggravated murder as prosecutors said they plan to seek the death penalty in the case.
The right-wing activist, 31, was gunned down September 10 after being struck in the neck by a single shot while debating with students at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray outlined the charges against 22-year-old Robinson at a press conference Tuesday, and the suspect later appeared in court virtually for his first hearing in the case. He displayed little emotion as he was formally read the murder and other counts he faces in connection to the “political assassination.”
Gray said Kirk’s death was an “American tragedy” and that he did not take the decision to pursue the death penalty “lightly.”
Prosecutors also took to share new details about the attack in an information document – a formal accusation filed by a prosecutor – including the alleged text exchanges between Robinson and his roommate, which shed light on a possible motive.
In one message, on September 10, the roommate received a text from Robinson which said, “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard,” according to the documents.
The note allegedly stated: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it.”
After reading the note, the roommate replied: “What?????????????? You're joking, right????”
That exchange was just one of several pieces of evidence discussed by prosecutors who detailed their case to the world during a press conference and then in court documents. The evidence included text messages about the gun and his apparent escape. In them, Robinson talked about his upbringing and family situation at the time of the shooting. Some of the most striking exchanges were with a roommate, who investigators say Robinson was romantically involved with, in the hours after the shooting.
Robinson: I am still ok my love, but am stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.
Roommate: You weren’t the one who did it right????
Robinson: I am, I’m sorry
Roommate: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: no, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but there’s one vehicle lingering.
Roommate: Why?
Robinson: Why did I do it?
Roommate: Yeah
Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.
Roommate: How long have you been planning this?
Robinson: A bit over a week I believe. I can get close to it but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t wanna chance it.
Robinson: I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle. ... I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle ... idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits. didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with. ... I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the f*** will I explain losing it to my old man. ...only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel. ... remember how I was engraving bullets? The f***in messages are mostly a big meme, if I see “notices bulge uwu” on fox new [sic] I might have a stroke alright I’m gonna have to leave it, that really f***ing sucks. ...judging from today I’d say grandpas gun does just fine idk. I think that was a $2k scope ;-;
Robinson: Delete this exchange
Robinson: My dad wants photos of the rifle ... he says grandpa wants to know who has what, the feds released a photo of the rifle, and it is very unique. Hes calling me rn, not answering.
Robinson: Since trump got into office [my dad] has been pretty diehard MAGA.
Robinson: I’m gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff.
Robinson: You are all I worry about love.
Roommate: I’m much more worried about you.
Robinson: Don’t talk to the media please. don’t take any interviews or make any comments. ... if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent.
The information document provides the most insight into the suspect’s alleged motive yet, and details how Robinson had “started to lean to the left,” according to his mother.
His mom told investigators that Robinson had become “more pro-gay and trans-rights orientated” in recent years and that he had began to date his roommate, “a biological male who was transitioning genders,” the document states.
It resulted in “discussions” with family members, “especially between Robinson and his father, who have very different political views.”
“In one conversation before the shooting, Robinson mentioned that Charlie Kirk would be holding an event at UVU, which Robinson said was a ‘stupid venue’ for the event,” the document states.
As a manhunt was underway, Robinson’s parents recognized their son in the surveillance images circulated by the FBI. The suspect’s father believed the rifle used in the shooting matched a weapon that was given to his son as a gift.
The father texted his son and asked him to send him a photo of the rifle, the document said. When Robinson did not respond, his father spoke to him over the phone where his son allegedly “implied that he planned to take his own life,” Gray said.
His parents persuaded their son to meet at their home, where “Robinson implied he was the shooter and stated that he couldn’t go to jail and just wanted to end it,” prosecutors allege.
“When asked why he did it, Robinson explained there is too much evil and the guy [Charlie Kirk] spreads too much hate,” the document states.
Robinson’s parents persuaded him to speak with a family friend, a retired deputy sheriff, and they all “convinced him to turn himself in,” alleged prosecutors.
In addition to the capital murder charge, the suspect was hit with a felony discharge of a firearm charge, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He also faces two counts of witness tampering and an additional charge of commission of violence in the presence of a child.
At a hearing late afternoon Tuesday, Robinson made his first court appearance and was dressed in a green, prison vest. He listened as Chad Grunander, the criminal division chief for the Utah County Attorney’s Office, said his office would seek the death penalty.
Judge Tony Graf, of the Fourth District Court, said that the court would appoint a lawyer to represent Robinson.
The next court hearing is scheduled for September 29 and Robinson will remain in the Utah County Jail.
