A man has been formally charged with aggravated murder for the alleged assassination of Charlie Kirk, with prosecutors pushing for the death penalty. Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of shooting Kirk with a bolt-action rifle from a nearby building while Kirk was holding a rally at Utah Valley University. In addition to aggravated murder, Robinson faces charges of felony discharge of a firearm and obstructing justice. The suspect is scheduled to appear in a virtual court hearing, where the county attorney plans to seek the death penalty.
Robinson is facing a total of seven charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice related to moving a firearm and disposing of clothing, witness tampering by instructing a roommate to delete text messages and stay quiet, and committing a violent crime in the presence of children.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced the decision to seek the death penalty during a press conference, emphasizing the gravity of the crime and the available evidence. Robinson turned himself in to authorities after a 33-hour manhunt, prompted by his father identifying him in CCTV footage released by law enforcement. Reports indicate that Robinson confessed to friends in a Discord group before surrendering.
Investigators have conducted searches at Robinson’s family home in Washington, Utah, and mentioned that while Robinson has not cooperated, his family and friends have provided information. DNA evidence has linked Robinson to items found near the crime scene, including a towel wrapped around a rifle and a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where the shooting occurred. Prior to the incident, Robinson had expressed a desire to harm Kirk in a written message, citing his disdain for Kirk and adherence to a leftist ideology.
Officials believe Robinson’s extremist views and online activities played a role in the tragic event. FBI Director Kash Patel shared that Robinson’s written message detailing his intent to harm Kirk was recovered despite attempts to destroy it. The investigation continues as authorities delve into Robinson’s background and motivations.