Utah prosecutors seek death penalty for suspect in Charlie Kirk killing

Shadows are beginning to clear around Tyler Robinson, the alleged killer of pro-Trump activist Charlie Kirk. The authorities investigating the crime, which has divided the country and resurrected some of the darkest memories of political violence in the United States, appeared on Tuesday to announce the charges against Robinson. He faces multiple offenses, the most serious being aggravated murder, which carries the possibility of the death penalty, legal in the state of Utah.

Jeff Gray, the district attorney for Utah County, described the murder as “an American tragedy” and confirmed that investigators are convinced the suspect acted with a political motivation. The hearing took place in Provo, Utah, near the Utah Valley University campus, where a shot fired from a hunting rifle at about 180 meters killed Kirk last Wednesday while he was debating in front of some 3,000 people.

In addition to aggravated murder, because, according to the prosecutor, he could have killed others, Robinson faces two charges for attempting to witness tampering. That witness is his partner, a trans person living with him, whom he asked to destroy evidence of his confession and not to speak to authorities or the press. The other two charges are obstruction of justice (two counts) and committing a violent offense in the presence of a minor.

The most notable moment of the hearing came when Gray read, in a monotone voice, an exchange of messages between the suspect and his partner that took place on September 10, the day of the murder. One message from Robinson said: “Drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.” That’s where the partner found a note that said, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” according to the charges.

To this, his partner — whom Gray described as “a biological man who was transitioning”— texted Robinson and asked if he was joking. According to court documents, Robinson responded: “To be honest, I had hoped to keep this secret until I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.”

When asked why he did it, Robinson replied: “I had enough of his hate. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

After these confessions, and after telling his partner he had planned the murder for “a little over a week,” the suspect asked them to delete the messages and not speak to anyone.

Gray also confirmed that the suspect’s DNA was found on the high-powered hunting rifle recovered near the crime scene, wrapped in a towel and accompanied by used and unused cartridges marked with anti-fascist inscriptions inspired by video game culture, Robinson’s great passion.

The Utah County prosecutor then detailed what happened immediately before and after Kirk died at 12:23 p.m. on a sunny day, when the bullet struck Kirk in the neck, causing him to collapse as blood poured out. The shot triggered a stampede among attendees at the event organized by the nonprofit Turning Point USA, which the MAGA youth leader and activist founded when he was just 18 years old. He had toured college campuses nationwide to challenge progressive beliefs among students.

Kirk also hosted a podcast where he shared his convictions with followers, many of them young MAGA converts, making him a close ally of Donald Trump. His beliefs included staunch evangelical Christianity, defense of traditional family values and women’s “submissive role,” mocking diversity and racial equality initiatives, attacking LGBTQ+ rights, and a strict interpretation of the Second Amendment.

Gray then carefully recounted much of what was already known about the 33-hour manhunt for the suspect, while also revealing new details. For instance, the role of Robinson’s mother, previously absent from the narrative. She told authorities that her son had “become more political and started to move more to the left” over the last year or so and had become “more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented.” Robinson’s mother recognized him in images released by law enforcement, and alerted his father, who shared her concern. Robinson’s family is Republican, pro-gun, and fond of hunting.

When journalists were allowed to ask questions, Gray repeatedly said: “I will not comment on that matter.”

After the announcement of the charges, Robinson was scheduled to appear virtually before a judge for the first time on Tuesday. He is being held at Utah County Jail in Spanish Fork, while the court is in Provo, a city suddenly in the international spotlight — not only because of Kirk’s alleged killer, but also because Robert Redford, its most famous resident, passed away in the early hours surrounded by his family.

Some of the latest investigative details were reported by U.S. media, such as The Washington Post, which revealed the contents of a forum where Robinson admitted to the crime (“It was me,” he wrote) in a Discord chat.

Other updates came from FBI Director Kash Patel in interviews on Fox News and during a fiery Senate oversight hearing on Tuesday. Patel said authorities were investigating whether others were involved in the crime, whether Robinson’s online forum peers knew anything, and whether any “leftist” organization was aware of or collaborated in his plans.

The Discord messages published by the Post correspond to the moments before Robinson surrendered at his hometown police station in St. George, in the far southwest of the state, after being convinced to do so by his parents.

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