Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, has been formally charged with aggravated murder as prosecutors said they plan to seek the death penalty in the case.
The right-wing activist, 31, was gunned down last Wednesday after being struck in the neck by a single shot while debating with students at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray outlined the charges against 22-year-old Robinson at a press conference Tuesday ahead of the suspect’s first court appearance, which is due to take place virtually at 5 p.m. ET.
Gray said Kirk’s death was an “American tragedy” and that he did not take the decision to pursue the death penalty “lightly.”
Prosecutors shared new details about the attack in charging documents, including the alleged text exchanges between Robinson and his roommate, which shed light on a possible motive.
On September 10, the roommate received a text from Robinson which said, “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard,” according to court documents.
The note allegedly stated: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
Prosecutors shared the following text exchange that allegedly took place:
After reading the note, the roommate replied: “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????”
Robinson: I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.
Roommate: you weren’t the one who did it right????
Robinson: I am, I’m sorry
Roommate: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: no, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres one vehicle lingering.
Roommate: Why?
Robinson: Why did I do it?
Roommate: Yeah
Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.
Roommate: How long have you been planning this?
Robinson: a bit over a week I believe. I can get close to it but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t wanna chance it
Robinson: I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle. … I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle … idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits. didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with. … I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the f*** will I explain losing it to my old man. …only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel. … remember how I was engraving bullets? The f***in messages are mostly a big meme, if I see “notices bulge uwu” on fox new I might have a stroke alright im gonna have to leave it, that really f***ing sucks. …judging from today I’d say grandpas gun does just fine idk. I think that was a $2k scope ;-;
Robinson: delete this exchange
Robinson: my dad wants photos of the rifle … he says grandpa wants to know who has what, the feds released a photo of the rifle, and it is very unique. Hes calling me rn, not answering.
Robinson: since trump got into office [my dad] has been pretty diehard maga.
Robinson: Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff.
Robinson: you are all I worry about love
Roommate: I’m much more worried about you
Robinson: don’t talk to the media please. don’t take any interviews or make any comments. … if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent
In addition to the murder charge, the suspect was also hit with a felony discharge of a firearm charge, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He also faces two counts of witness tampering and an additional charge of commission of violence in the presence of a child.
The charging documents provide the most insight into the suspect’s alleged motive yet, and detail how Robinson had “started to lean to the left.”
After a two-day manhunt, Robinson surrendered to the police on the evening of September 11 after his own family tipped off the authorities.
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