Tyler Robinson faces the death penalty for killing conservative influencer Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. The 22-year-old shooter has been charged with aggravated murder and other serious crimes.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced Tuesday that prosecutors will seek capital punishment. Gray called Kirk’s death “an American tragedy” and said he does not take this decision lightly.
Robinson shot Kirk during a campus event on September 10. The suspect was arrested the following day after his own father recognized him in police photos.
The young man appeared in court virtually on Tuesday for his first hearing. He showed no emotion as the judge read the charges against him. Robinson only spoke to confirm his name during the brief session.
His next court date is scheduled for September 29. By then, Robinson is expected to have legal representation. He remains in jail without bail.
Along with murder charges, Robinson faces several other counts. These include felony discharge of a firearm causing serious injury. He also faces obstruction of justice and two counts of witness tampering.
Prosecutors added another count for committing violence in front of a child. All charges carry serious penalties under Utah law.
Robinson’s father played a key role in his capture. The man recognized his son in surveillance images released by police. Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed these details last week.
The father also noticed that the police description matched a rifle given to Robinson as a gift. When he asked his son to send a photo of the weapon, Robinson did not respond.
During a phone call, Robinson suggested he might harm himself. His worried parents convinced him to come home for a family meeting.
At that meeting, Robinson admitted to being the shooter. He told his parents he could not go to jail and wanted to end his life.
When asked why he committed this crime, Robinson gave a clear answer. He said there is “too much evil” and Kirk “spreads too much hate.”
Robinson’s parents urged him to speak with a family friend who works as a deputy sheriff. This person convinced the young man to surrender to authorities.
Before the shooting, Robinson sent his roommate an urgent text message. The message told the roommate to look under Robinson’s computer keyboard immediately.
The roommate found a handwritten note hidden there. The note said Robinson had the chance to “take out Charlie Kirk” and planned to do it.
After the shooting, Robinson sent more messages to his roommate. One message said he had “enough of his hatred” and that “some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
The roommate asked how long Robinson had been planning the attack. Robinson replied that he had been thinking about it for “a little over a week.”
Robinson also used Discord, a messaging platform, to discuss his actions. He sent messages admitting to the shooting just two hours before his arrest.
One Discord message read: “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all of this.”
FBI Director Kash Patel testified Tuesday that federal agents are investigating Robinson’s Discord contacts. Patel said more than 20 people are linked to Robinson on the platform.
The FBI is “running them all down” to determine if anyone else was involved. A “number of individuals” are currently under investigation.
Robinson participated in at least two group chats that discussed Kirk’s killing. Federal authorities are examining whether anyone knew about the planned attack.
President Donald Trump commented on the case during a Monday evening press briefing. Trump claimed Robinson became “radicalized over the internet” and was influenced by left-wing ideas.
FBI Co-Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Robinson appeared to have an “obsession” with Kirk based on his digital activity. Bongino noted that Robinson showed “multiple warning signs” before the attack.
Vice President JD Vance suggested that “left-wing extremism” played a role in Kirk’s death but officials have not confirmed a specific political motive.
Federal charges could still be announced in the coming days. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said authorities are “not in a rush” to file federal charges.
Investigators continue examining electronic devices and other evidence. They want to build a complete picture of Robinson’s actions and motivations.
