The charges against Tyler Robinson, the man suspected of killing Charlie Kirk, have been made public.
Speaking at a college function at Utah Valley University on September 10, the conservative media personality and MAGA ally was shot and killed by a single gunshot.
The thirty-one-year-old came to campus as part of his ‘American Comeback Tour’, which was arranged by Turning Point USA, the organization he co-founded and served as executive director of.
Kirk was shot in the neck in the middle of responding to a question regarding transgender shooters.
After a fierce nationwide manhunt, Utah resident Tyler Robinson was taken into custody on September 12.
The suspected shooter, 22, is now facing seven charges, including obstruction of justice and aggravated murder.
The following are the seven counts:
- Count 1: Aggravated murder
- Count 2: Felony discharge of a firearm
- Count 3: Obstruction of justice – moving a firearm
- Count 4: Obstruction of justice – disposing of clothing
- Count 5: Witness tampering – telling a roommate to delete messages
- Count 6: Witness tampering – telling a roommate to stay quiet
- Count 7: Committing violent crime when children are present
In a press conference held today (September 16), Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
“I do not take this decision lightly,” he added, before saying Robinson will continue to be held without bail in jail.
According to an affidavit submitted to Utah County Jail, Robinson had been detained without bond on suspicion of three offenses: criminal discharge of a handgun causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, and aggravated murder.
Police said they apprehended Robinson after receiving a tip from his Republican father, but other relatives think they ‘had the wrong man’.
Video footage seems to show a figure wearing all black rushing across the roof of a nearby building in the immediate aftermath of the assassination, as participants at the college event could be heard yelling and scurrying to safety.
Soon after, the FBI reported that they had found a powerful bolt-action rifle in the woods along the path they believed the gunman traveled as he fled the scene.
Grainy CCTV photos of their main suspect were later made public. They showed a slender, college-aged man hiding in the school stairwell, wearing sunglasses and a cap.
Authorities said they thought the incident was ‘targeted’ and that the shooter, who was standing from the rooftop, had acted alone.
The allegation was made after DNA recovered from the crime scene seemed to connect Robinson to the murder and an account purportedly belonging to him joked about the murder online.
According to FBI director Kash Patel, DNA was discovered on a towel that was purportedly wrapped around the abandoned firearm and a screwdriver that was taken from the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired.
Additionally, bullet casings with the words “hey fascist” and “catch” scribbled on them were found at the scene.
His friends on Discord reportedly saw a resemblance between the two when the suspect’s photos were released, but the accused murderer reportedly dismissed the claim as his “doppelganger.”
Robinson reportedly responded, “Only if I get a cut,” when another user made fun of him for turning in the FBI’s $100,000 prize.
A damaging note that was allegedly “destroyed” in the suspect’s house was later disclosed by Patel. It said, “I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
It is thought that Robinson ‘admitted’ to the crime to his Discord friends two hours before to his arrest, announcing his intention to turn himself in.
It is believed he wrote, “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all of this.”
“I’m surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments.”
Spencer Cox, the governor of Utah, claimed that although Robinson was not assisting the authorities, his roommate was.
“Despite his Republican heritage, the young man has become ‘deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,’” Cox continued.
Congress is also anticipated to scrutinize FBI director Kash Patel for his management of the inquiry.
