Text messages between Tyler Robinson and his partner, in which suspect talked of having enough ‘of this hatred’, released by prosecutors
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of shooting dead Charlie Kirk has made his first court appearance, by video from jail.
Authorities also released new information, including a text messages to his partner and a note which said he had the opportunity to kill one of the nation’s leading conservative voices “and I’m going to take it.”
Kirk, a dominant figure in conservative politics who became a key ally of Donald Trump’s, was gunned down on 10 September at Utah Valley University while speaking with students on campus.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said Kirk’s murder was “an American tragedy” as he outlined evidence and charges against Robinson.
Text messages appear to show confession
Authorities released a text exchange between Robinson and his roommate, believed to be his partner, in which the suspect says he wants to come home but has to “grab my rifle” first.
The texts show he worried about losing his grandfather’s rifle and mentioned several times in the texts that he wished he had picked it up.
It was unclear how long after the shooting Robinson was texting and the messages did not have timestamps.
“To be honest I had hoped the keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you,” he wrote.
Robinson’s partner appeared shocked in the text exchange after the shooting, according to court documents, asking Robinson: “You weren’t the one who did it right????”.
The roommate also asked “why he did it and how long he’d been planning it.”
Robinson told his partner Kirk was targeted because “I had enough of this hatred.
“Some hate can’t be negotiated out,” the text messages showed. He wrote he had been planning it “a bit over a week”.
Talking about retrieving the weapon he wrote: “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.”
Then he wrote: “Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.”
After that, he sent: “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.”
Prosecutor Gray said Robinson had discarded the rifle and clothing and asked his roommate to conceal evidence.
Gray told reporters that a note Robinson under a keyboard left for his partner stated: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
The prosecutor declined to answer whether Robinson targeted Kirk for his anti-transgender views. Kirk was shot while taking a question that touched on mass shootings, gun violence and transgender people.
“That is for a jury to decide,” Gray said.
However he said Robinson is “believed to have targeted Charlie Kirk based on Charlie Kirk’s political expression and did so knowing children were present and would witness the homicide.”
Robinson was involved in a romantic relationship with his roommate, who investigators say was transgender, which hasn’t been confirmed.
Gray said the partner has been cooperating with investigators.
Gray said Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the gun used to kill Kirk.
The weapon was his grandfather’s rifle, which Robinson’s father told investigators was a gift.
Split from family on political views
Robinson’s mother told investigators that their son had turned left politically in the last year and became more supportive of gay and transgender rights after dating someone who is transgender, Gray said.
Robinson’s dating choice prompted several conversations with his family, especially between Robinson and his father.
They had different political views, and Robinson told his roommate in a text message that his dad had become a “diehard MAGA” since Donald Trump was elected.
Moments before Kirk was shot, he was taking a question that touched on mass shootings, gun violence and transgender people.
A Christian father of two, Kirk demonstrated a combative new approach to conservatism that openly criticised racial justice movements, the news media and LGBTQ+ rights.
Critics said his views perpetuated racist, anti-immigrant and anti-feminist ideas.
State records show Robinson is registered to vote but is not affiliated with a political party and is listed as inactive, meaning he did not vote in the two most recent general elections.
Robinson’s family confronted him about the killing after his mother recognised him when authorities released a photo of the suspect.
That led his parents to confront him, at which time Robinson said he wanted to kill himself.
The family persuaded him to meet with a family friend who is a retired sheriff’s deputy, who convinced Robinson to turn himself in.
Investigators had spoken to Robinson’s relatives and carried out a search warrant at his family’s home in Washington.
Prosecutors seek death penalty
Robinson was charged with felony discharge of a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
He also was charged with witness tampering because he had directed his partner to delete their text messages and told his partner to stay silent if questioned by police, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said.
Earlier, Gray said he would file a notice to seek the death penalty and that Robinson would remain jailed without bond.
The charges filed on Tuesday carry two enhancements, including committing several of the crimes in front of or close to children and carrying out violence based on the subject’s political beliefs.
Gray declined to say whether Robinson’s partner could face charges or whether anyone else might face charges.
With agencies
