Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty After Charlie Kirk Shooting — 7 Chilling Charges Revealed

Prosecutors charge suspect, seek death penalty

Utah County prosecutors on Tuesday charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and said they will pursue the death penalty. The charges were filed via an information document rather than an indictment, which means the case will next proceed to a probable cause hearing where a judge will decide if there is enough evidence to move forward.

Evidence summarized in the charging document

Prosecutors say the charging document lays out evidence gathered by investigators, including DNA found on the suspected murder weapon and a texted message that the document describes as a confession.

Hints at a possible motive

The filing states Robinson “intentionally” targeted Kirk because of Robinson’s “belief or perception regarding Charlie Kirk’s political expression.” While prosecutors did not list specific policy issues as motive, the document reports that Robinson told his roommate and family that Kirk “spreads too much hate” and that he had “had enough of his hatred.”

Family’s account of political shift

According to the charging papers, Robinson’s mother told investigators that over the past year Robinson had become more political and “started to lean more to the left,” becoming more supportive of gay and trans rights; she also said Robinson had begun dating his roommate, described in the document as a biological male who was transitioning genders.

Multiple charges beyond murder

In addition to aggravated murder, the charging document sets out six other counts. Prosecutors allege two counts of obstruction of justice for concealing or removing the firearm used in the shooting and for disposing of clothing worn during the incident. Robinson also faces a felony firearm discharge charge, a charge of committing a violent offense in the presence of a child, and two counts of witness tampering for allegedly directing his roommate to delete incriminating messages and remain silent if questioned.

Note under the keyboard and texts to roommate

On the day of the shooting, Robinson allegedly texted his roommate to “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard,” where the roommate reportedly found a note that read, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” The roommate’s reaction — “What?????????????? … You’re joking, right????” — is recounted in the filing. Robinson is said to have apologized for involving the roommate and later told them he had planned the attack for more than a week, saying he “had enough of his hatred.”

Instructions to delete messages and seek counsel

The charging document says Robinson told the roommate to delete the exchange and to invoke a lawyer if questioned. He also texted that he planned to retrieve a rifle from a “drop point” and worried about what his father would do if he didn’t return “grandpa’s rifle.”

Surveillance footage and escape from the roof

According to the filing, a university police officer searching for potential firing positions found roof markings consistent with someone having lain in a sniper position. Video allegedly shows an individual in dark clothing dropping onto a roof around 12:15 p.m., moving into a prone shooting position, and then running across the roof carrying an item consistent with a rifle. The person is shown climbing down and running toward a wooded area, where investigators later found a towel-wrapped rifle.

Entry to campus and gait noted by investigators

Police determined the suspect entered the campus from the north about 11:51 a.m., walking with an “unusual gait” in his right leg that the filing says was consistent with concealing a rifle in his pants.

Forensics: rifle, rounds and DNA ties

Investigators say they recovered a Mauser Model 98 .30-06 bolt-action rifle with a mounted scope in the wooded area; it contained one spent round and three unspent rounds and was wrapped in a towel. The rifle, towel and ammunition were sent for forensic testing, and the document says DNA consistent with Robinson’s was found on the rifle’s trigger, other parts of the rifle, the fired cartridge casing, two unfired cartridges, and on the towel.

Engraved casings, memes and mixed messages

The charging document describes engraved messages on each round’s casing. Robinson allegedly told his roommate the engravings were “mostly a big meme.” One fired bullet had an inscription the filing quotes as “NoTices Bulge OWO What’s This?” The document also notes that earlier investigators had highlighted some anti-fascist wording on casings — for example, one round was reported to be inscribed “Hey fascist! Catch!” — language Utah’s governor said “speaks for itself.” The filing indicates a mixture of memes, video-game references and potential political messaging on the casings.

Surrender after family recognizes suspect on news

About 33 hours after the shooting, Robinson turned himself in to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office accompanied by his parents and a family friend. The filing says Robinson’s mother believed she recognized him in a surveillance photo released publicly; his father told authorities the described weapon matched a rifle he had given his son. The father contacted Tyler and later the family, with the filing saying Robinson “implied that he planned to take his own life” before the parents convinced him to meet and ultimately to surrender.

Family friend’s role and steps before surrender

The charging document recounts that a family friend, a retired deputy sheriff, met with the family and persuaded Robinson to turn himself in, and that the friend advised Robinson to bring any evidence to prevent a police search of the parents’ home. The filing also says Robinson told the friend he had disposed of the clothes he wore during the shooting.