Utah County prosecutors on Tuesday charged Tyler Robinson within the taking pictures loss of life of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley College, a homicide officers say was politically motivated. They intend to hunt the loss of life penalty.
Utah County Lawyer Jeff Grey introduced the indictment at a noon information convention, itemizing prices of aggravated homicide, felony discharge of a firearm inflicting severe bodily damage, and fee of a violent offense within the presence of a kid. Robinson, 22, can also be charged with two counts of obstruction and two counts of witness tampering.
“Charlie Kirk was murdered whereas participating in considered one of our most sacred and cherished American rights,” Grey stated. “The bedrock of our democratic republic is the free trade of concepts in a seek for reality, understanding, and a extra good union.”
Grey stated that the homicide was thought of an aggravated offense as a result of it was believed to be motivated by the sufferer’s political expression. On the matter of the loss of life penalty, he added: “I don’t take this determination frivolously, and it’s a determination I’ve made independently as county lawyer primarily based solely on the out there proof and circumstances and nature of the crime.”
Robinson will make his first court docket look at 3 pm MST on Tuesday.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on September 10 whereas taking questions from college students. The cofounder of Turning Level USA, he was credited with galvanizing younger conservatives and taking part in a pivotal function in Donald Trump’s 2024 White Home return.
The taking pictures sparked chaos on campus, the place delayed and contradictory emergency alerts left many college students and college scrambling in confusion. Vigils for Kirk have since been held in Arizona, New York, and Washington, amongst different states. Throughout the US, Kirk’s homicide has grow to be each a rallying cry for far-right retribution and gasoline for an assault on civil society.
Investigators declare forensic proof hyperlinks Robinson to the taking pictures, with FBI director Kash Patel telling Fox & Associates that matching DNA was discovered on a towel wrapped across the rifle and on a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop the place the deadly shot was fired. Patel additionally stated investigators imagine Robinson wrote a be aware of his alleged intent to kill Kirk, bolstering claims the assault was premeditated.
An indictment released Tuesday provides vivid particulars to the allegations. Prosecutors say surveillance footage captured Robinson climbing onto a campus rooftop, mendacity inclined in a “sniper place,” and firing from almost 160 yards away. Investigators recovered cartridges on the scene with hand-engraved messages, which prosecutors argue factors to premeditation and motive.
Prosecutors additionally cited interviews with Robinson’s mother and father and roommate, who stated he expressed anger that Kirk “spreads an excessive amount of hate” and admitted he had “sufficient of his hatred.” The submitting additional alleges that Robinson informed his roommate to remain silent if approached by police and that youngsters had been seen close to the stage when Kirk was shot—elements prosecutors say aggravated the seriousness of the crime.
Investigators are additionally scrutinizing Robinson’s digital footprint. Screenshots obtained by The Washington Put up and other outlets allegedly present him confessing in a personal Discord chat hours earlier than surrendering: “It was me at UVU yesterday. i’m sorry for all of this.” The identical consumer adopted with one other message saying he was about to show himself in via “a sheriff buddy.” Discord reportedly confirmed it gave copies of the messages to regulation enforcement and stated it discovered no proof that Robinson used the platform to plan or promote violence.
