Suspect in Kirk Killing Charged, Prosecutors Will Seek Death Penalty

Tyler Robinson, the alleged killer of right-wing organizer and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, has been charged with seven counts, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice. Utah County Attorney Attorney Jeff Gray said in announcing the charges that prosecutors would seek the death penalty.

“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Gray said on Tuesday. “Charlie Kirk was murdered while engaging in one of our most sacred and cherished American rights.”

“I’m filing notice of intent to seek the death penalty,” Gray added. “I do not make this decision lightly, and it’s one I’ve made as county attorney based solely on evidence and circumstances of the crime.”

Robinson, 22, is suspected of shooting and killing Kirk last week during an event at Utah Valley University. Robinson was arrested after a two-day manhunt during which the FBI interrogated and released at least two other persons of interest in the shooting. Robinson was ultimately turned into authorities by his father, who recognized him from photos released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Robinson’s motives for killing Kirk remain unclear, but authorities have reported that his family and roommate are cooperating with investigators. According to Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah), investigators recovered a “high-powered bolt-action rifle” they believe was used in the shooting, as well as bullets with various inscriptions appearing to reference video games and online memes.

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“Inscriptions on a fired casing read ‘notices, bulges, OWO, what’s this, question mark.’ Inscriptions on the unfired casings read, ‘Hey fascist! Catch!’ up arrow symbol, right arrow symbol, and three down arrow symbols. A second unfired casing read, ‘O, bella ciao, bella ciao, bella biao, ciao, ciao,’ and a third unfired casing read, ‘If you read this, you are gay, LMAO,’” Cox reported. 

On Monday, the FBI said that they had further linked Robinson to the assassination via a positive DNA match to a towel found wrapped around the rifle allegedly used in the shooting, and a screwdriver near the snipers nest. FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News on Monday that Robinson had said he was going to kill Kirk in a text message, and a “destroyed” note that the bureau was able to reconstruct, but has not been made public.