Tyler Robinson, the accused killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has been formally charged with multiple serious offenses, including one count each of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and committing a violent crime in the presence of a child.
Prosecutors also filed two counts of obstruction of justice and two counts of witness tampering. Robinson, who will be held without bail, faces the death penalty.
Utah County prosecutors announced Tuesday that they would pursue capital punishment and disclosed new evidence, including text messages in which Robinson allegedly admitted to the shooting.
“I had enough of his hatred,” the 22-year-old suspect reportedly told his roommate and partner, according to transcripts filed in court.
Investigators say Robinson fired a single rifle shot from a rooftop at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.
The bullet struck Kirk in the neck, killing him instantly.
District Attorney Jeffrey Gray confirmed seven criminal counts, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice for destroying evidence, and witness tampering for urging his roommate to delete messages.
The case has drawn national attention, with political figures including U.S. President Donald Trump calling for capital punishment.
At a press conference, DA Gray emphasized that the decision to seek the death penalty was made “independently, based solely on the evidence and the nature of the crime.”
Robinson appeared via video from jail for his initial hearing, unshaven and wearing a suicide-prevention smock.
He remained expressionless while the judge read the charges and informed him of the potential death sentence.
The defendant spoke only once, when asked to state his name.
Finding Robinson unable to afford legal counsel, Utah Fourth District Judge Tony Graf said he would appoint a defense attorney before the next court hearing, set for September 29.
In the meantime, he was ordered to remain held without bond in the Washington County Jail, where, according to a sheriff’s spokesperson, he has been placed under a “special watch protocol” that includes increased supervision.
Kirk’s killing, captured in graphic video clips that went viral online, sparked denunciations of political violence, opens new tab across the ideological spectrum but also unleashed a wave of partisan blame-casting and concerns that the murder might beget more bloodshed.
In court filings, prosecutors highlighted some of their evidence against Tyler Robinson, who was at large for more than 30 hours before eventually turning himself in.
Shortly after the shooting, prosecutors said, Robinson sent a text message telling his roommate to “drop what you’re doing, look under my keyboard.”
The roommate, whom officials have also described as Robinson’s romantic partner and transitioning from male to female, then found a physical note from
Robinson that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
The roommate then asked Robinson in a text reply, “you weren’t the one who did it right????” Robinson responded: “I am, I’m sorry,” according to a transcript of the alleged dialogue.
When the roommate asked why he had shot Kirk, Tyler Robinson wrote back: “I had enough of his hatred.
Some hate can’t be negotiated out.” He also asserted he had planned the attack for more than a week, prosecutors said.
In later text messages, Robinson said he wished he had gone back and grabbed the rifle that he left in a bush immediately following the killing, noting it had belonged to his grandfather.
“I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle,” he wrote. “I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints.”
DNA found on the trigger of the alleged murder weapon was linked to Robinson, prosecutors said.