The charges against the suspect in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were announced Tuesday by Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray.
Gray is seeking the death penalty in the case.
Here are some of the details included in the charging documents:
- Charlie Kirk was speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
- Kirk was struck by a bullet in the neck. He slumped to the ground almost immediately.
- Kirk was pronounced dead at the hospital.
- The bullet’s trajectory passed closely to several other individuals besides Kirk, including the questioner who was standing directly in front of Kirk.
- Children were visible near Kirk’s stage when he was shot
- At the moment of the shot, a UVU police officer (the UVU Officer) was watching the crowd from an elevated vantage point.
- As soon as he heard the shot, the officer began to scan the area for threats. Believing the shot came from a rifle because of its sound, he looked for potential sniper positions. He noted a roof area approximately 160 yards away from Kirk as a potential shooting position and rushed there to look for evidence.
- Robinson’s mother saw a photo released by police and believed it looked like her son.
- Robinson’s mother called her son and asked him where he was. He said he was at home sick and that he had also been at home sick on September 10th.
- Robinson’s mother told police that over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political and had started to lean more to the left – becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented. She stated that Robinson began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders.
- Robinson’s father reported that when his wife showed him the surveillance image of the suspected shooter in the news, he agreed that it looked like their son.
- He also believed that the rifle that police suspected the shooter used matched a rifle that was given to his son as a gift.
- As a result, Robinson’s father contacted his son and asked him to send a photo of the rifle. Robinson did not respond. However, Robinson’s father spoke on the phone with Robinson. Robinson implied that he planned to take his own life. Robinson’s parents were able to convince him to meet at their home.
- As they discussed the situation, Robinson implied that he was the shooter and stated that he couldn’t go to jail and just wanted to end it. When asked why he did it, Robinson explained there is too much evil and the guy [Charlie Kirk] spreads too much hate.
- They talked about Robinson turning himself in and convinced Robinson to speak with a family friend who is a retired deputy sheriff.
- At Robinson’s father’s request, the family friend met with Robinson and his parents and convinced Robinson to turn himself in.
- On the evening of Sept. 11, 2025, as law enforcement continued their investigation, Tyler James Robinson, went to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with his parents and a family friend to turn himself in.
- Police interviewed Robinson’s roommate/partner.
Police released the following text exchanges allegedly between Robinson and his partner:
Robinson: 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.
Roommate: you weren’t the one who did it right????
Robinson: I am, I’m sorry
Roommate: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: 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.
Roommate: Why?
Robinson: Why did I do it?
Roommate: Yeah
Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.
Roommate: How long have you been planning this?
Robinson: a bit over a week I believe. I can get close to it but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t wanna chance it …
Robinson: I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle. … I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle … idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits. didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with. … I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the (expletive) will I explain losing it to my old man. … only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel. … remember how I was engraving bullets? The (expletive) messages are mostly a big meme, if I see “notices bulge uwu” on fox new I might have a stroke alright im gonna have to leave it, that really (expletive) sucks. … judging from today I’d say grandpas gun does just fine idk. I think that was a $2k scope ;-; …
Robinson: delete this exchange
Robinson: my dad wants photos of the rifle … he says grandpa wants to know who has what, the feds released a photo of the rifle, and it is very unique. Hes calling me rn, not answering. …
Robinson: since trump got into office [my dad] has been pretty diehard maga. …
Robinson: Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff.
Robinson: you are all I worry about love
Roommate: I’m much more worried about you
Robinson: don’t talk to the media please. don’t take any interviews or make any comments. … if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent
Police charged suspect with 7 counts
Police charged Robinson with seven counts, including aggravated murder.
Gray said his office would seek the death penalty in the case.