Tyler Robinson: Charlie Kirk suspect formally charged with aggravated murder, prosecutors seek death penalty

Tyler Robinson has appeared in court virtually for the first time after being arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk, with new alleged texts to his roommate revealed by prosecutors.

Earlier on Tuesday (local time), prosecutors in Utah formally charged the 22-year-old with aggravated murder in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

He sat emotionless with a green self-harm vest on as Fourth District Court Jude Tony Graf Jr read the charges against him and told him the state of Utah will be seeking the death penalty if he is convicted.

Mr Robinson only spoke when asked to state his name.

He is accused of firing the single rifle shot from a rooftop sniper’s position that struck Kirk in the neck last Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 65 km south of Salt Lake City.

Utah County District Attorney Jeffrey Gray announced in a press conference that seven counts have been filed against Mr Robinson, including obstruction of justice for disposing of evidence and witness tampering for directing his roommate to delete text messages.

Mr Gray said he had made the decision to seek the death penalty “independently, based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime”.

“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Mr Gray said in announcing the charges.’

Court papers say Mr Robinson allegedly confessed after the shooting by telling his roommate and father that Mr Kirk was hateful.

One message he sent to his roommate and romantic partner allegedly said: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

Mr Robinson asked his roommate to “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard”

The note under his keyboard said: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”

The roommate responded: “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????

Mr Robinson replied: “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.”

“You weren’t the one who did it right????,” the roommate said.

“I am, I’m sorry,” Mr Robinson said.

“I thought they caught the person?, Mr Robinson’s partner asked.

“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,” Mr Robinson replied

Roommate: “Why?”

Mr Robinson: “Why did I do it?...I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

The court documents also included officials stating that Mr Robinson’s mother thought an image released by investigators resembled her son.

Mr Robinson’s father then reportedly got in contact, according to court filings, and the 22-year-old said: “there is too much evil and the guy (Charlie Kirk) spreads too much hate.”

The killing, captured in graphic video clips that went viral on the internet, sparked denunciations of political violence across the ideological spectrum but also unleashed a wave of partisan blame-casting and concerns that Kirk’s murder might beget more bloodshed.

Authorities have not publicly identified a motive for the killing, although Mr Kirk’s wife and other supporters were quick to cast him as a martyr for their cause.

Mr Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder and head of the conservative student movement Turning Point USA and a key ally of US President Donald Trump, was speaking at an event attended by 3000 people when he was gunned down.

The suspect, a third-year student of an electrical apprenticeship at a state technical college, initially escaped in the pandemonium following the shooting.

He was arrested on Thursday night at his parents’ house, about 420km southwest of the crime scene, after relatives and a family friend alerted authorities that Mr Robinson had implicated himself in the shooting, according to Governor Spencer Cox.

Mr Robinson was scheduled to appear via video feed from jail on Tuesday afternoon in Utah County Justice Court in Provo.

Cox said the state would be inclined to seek the death penalty should Robinson be convicted, but that prosecutors would consider the wishes of Kirk’s family before making that decision.

Mr Kirk brought young conservatives into politics with Turning Point USA, one of the country’s largest political organisations.

He frequently engaged with his critics from the far left to the far right, often inviting members of his audiences to debate him live.

Mr Kirk’s shooting raised fears about increasing political violence in a deeply polarised United States.

Mr Robinson has not yet been appointed an attorney. His next hearing is scheduled for 10am September 29.

- with AP and Reuters