Utah seeking death penalty for Charlie Kirk shooting suspect

(CN) — Tyler James Robinson, the man authorities say fatally shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will face the death penalty, a Utah prosecutor said Tuesday.

Officials on Friday arrested Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, on accusations he killed Kirk at a Utah Valley University speaking event earlier that week. He remained held Tuesday without bail.

Speaking Tuesday, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray revealed the formal charges Robinson now faces: aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child, and two counts each of obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

The obstruction charges stem from moving and concealing a rifle and disposing of clothing after the shooting. The witness tampering counts are linked to accusations that Robinson told his roommate to delete texts and stay silent if questioned by police, Gray said.

The prosecutor added that, after reviewing the evidence and the circumstances of the crime, he’d seek the death penalty.

“I do not take this decision lightly,” Gray added.

Robinson appeared remotely before Fourth District Judge Tony Graf for a first appearance hearing later that day. At that hearing, Robinson — wearing what appeared to be a green prison smock — provided his full name when asked. He said nothing else.

Graf determined Robinson was indigent and could have an attorney appointed to him. An official said in court that he anticipated the appointment would occur before a Sept. 29 hearing for Robinson.

The Tuesday filing of the charges starts the criminal case against Robinson. Robinson, at some point, will have a preliminary hearing to determine if enough evidence exists to proceed toward trial. That hearing hasn’t yet been set.

The shooting of Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, sent shockwaves across the nation as a manhunt quickly developed. The FBI released surveillance footage of a person of interest: someone who appeared to be a white man, wearing a ballcap and sunglasses, along with a black, long-sleeved shirt and long pants.

Officers identified Robinson as a suspect after learning that he’d confessed or implied his involvement in the shooting to a family member, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said. Gray said Tuesday that Robinson had exchanged texts with his roommate, also a romantic partner, after the shooting.

Robinson texted the roommate to look under the computer keyboard. Underneath, the roommate found a note, supposedly written by Robinson, stating he had an opportunity to “take out” Kirk and that he planned to take it.

“’What? You’re joking, right?’” Gray read from the roommate’s texts. Moments later, the roommate texted: “‘You’re not the one who did it?’” Gray then followed it with what he said was Robinson’s reply: “‘I am. I am. I’m sorry.’”

Agent interviews revealed that at a recent dinner, Robinson mentioned Kirk would appear at the Utah university and expressed his reasons for disliking the activist, adding that he believed Kirk spread hate, Cox said.

Speaking with Robinson’s roommate, agents saw Discord messages from Robinson giving information about a rifle drop point, about watching the area where the rifle was left and about it being wrapped in a towel, Cox said.

Authorities said a bolt-action rifle was found in the woods near the university, adding it appeared to be the gun used in the fatal shooting.

Agents found some engravings on spent and unspent shell casings, including the words, “Hey, fascist!” and “Catch!” Another bore the phrase, “If you read this, you are gay. LMAO,” Cox said.

The fatal shooting of the conservative commentator and activist led the university to shutter classes and escort people from the campus. Elected officials and media personalities on both sides of the aisle denounced political violence.

Initial social media posts offered prayers for Kirk in hopes he’d survive the gunshot wound to his neck. Shortly afterward, President Donald Trump posted that Kirk had died.

Trump himself has escaped two assassination attempts.

While many people decried political violence, others pointed to Kirk’s controversial statements about slavery and homosexuality. Many highlighted a statement he made in 2023: “I think it’s worth (it) to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”

Turning Point USA champions conservative values at high schools and universities. Founded in 2012 by Kirk, its goal is to identify, educate, train and organize students, leading them to herald ideals like fiscal responsibility and limited government.

The organization on its website boasts a presence on over 3,500 campuses, calling itself the biggest and fastest-growing youth group in the nation.