Kirk murder suspect faces death penalty bid by prosecutors

Tyler Robinson, accused of killing the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, appeared in court on Sept. 16 via video link from jail. The office of Utah County District Attorney Jeffrey Gray charged Robinson with seven offenses, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice for disposing of evidence and witness tampering for asking his roommate to delete incriminating texts, with the prosecutors pledged to pursue the death penalty, Reuters reported.

According to court filings, Robinson sent a message to his roommate, who is not identified in the documents, instructing them to look under the keyboard. There, the roommate reportedly found a handwritten note stating: «I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,» following the shooting. In response to the roommate’s question about his motive, Robinson wrote: «I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.»

Prosecutors also said that Robinson later texted that the alleged murder rifle belonged to his grandfather and that he should have returned to get it back from the bush where he had left it.

Robinson, a third-year trade college student, surrendered the next day after his parents recognized images of the gunman and confronted him. He indicated suicidal intent, but his parents persuaded him to meet them at home. There, he admitted he was the shooter. At their urging, he spoke with a family friend who is a retired deputy sheriff before turning himself in, according to prosecutors.

Robinson could not afford the services of an attorney, so the Utah Fourth District Judge Tony Graf said he would appoint one before the next court hearing, scheduled for Sept. 29.