Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of shooting and killing Kirk last week at Utah Valley University.
PROVO, Utah—Prosecutors on Tuesday unveiled charges against the man accused in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, including a capital murder count.
The counts against Tyler James Robinson include aggravated murder charges, felony discharge of a firearm and causing serious bodily injury, two obstruction of justice counts, two witness tampering charges, and violent offense committed in the presence of a child, said Utah County Attorney Jeffrey S. Gray in a news conference with dozens of reporters at the Utah County Health & Justice Building in Provo, Utah.
“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Gray said, expressing his condolences and prayers to the Kirk family.
The capital aggravated murder charge means Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted in the Kirk killing. Because prosecutors “are seeking the death penalty,” Gray recommended that Robinson be held without bail.
Charges against Robinson, 22, came after he was arrested last week as he was named the suspect in the killing of Kirk, a conservative commentator credited with energizing younger conservatives and helping President Donald Trump win back the White House in 2024, at a Utah college on Sept. 10.
Gray said that the witness tampering charges stem from Robinson allegedly telling his roommate to stay silent if police questioned him and also telling the roommate to delete messages that contained incriminating evidence.
Investigators have been cobbling together evidence in the killing, including a bolt-action rifle and ammunition engraved with anti-fascist messages, found after the shooting Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem. Kirk had been speaking at an event when he was shot in front of a crowd of people.
It’s not clear whether Robinson has an attorney or someone who could speak on his behalf. On Sunday, a spokesman for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office told The Epoch Times he was moved to a special watch area in the county’s jail facility before mental health officials make an evaluation.
Robinson was arrested last week near St. George, the southern Utah community where he grew up, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on Sept. 12.
Other individuals may have been involved or knew about Robinson’s, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a Senate hearing on Tuesday. He said that there were well over 20 people in a Discord chat server with Robinson who are being investigated.
Both Cox and Patel have said that Robinson had a left-wing ideological viewpoint, with Cox announcing that bullets recovered in the case were etched with anti-fascist messages. Gray also made reference to the bullets’ etchings during Tuesday’s news conference.
“Hey fascists! Catch,” was one of the messages on the bullets, said Gray.
By Jack Phillips and Janice Hisle
