Utah County Attorney Jeffrey S. Gray speaks during a press conference about the charges and next steps in the case of Tyler Robinson, who is suspected of fatally shooting U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, in Provo, Utah, U.S., Sept. 16, 2025.
Jim Urquhart | Reuters
Utah prosecutors charged Tyler Robinson on Tuesday with aggravated murder in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said that he intends to seek the death penalty in the case against Robinson, who was also charged with felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and several other counts.
“I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently as county attorney based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime,” Gray said at a press conference.
Robinson, a Utah resident, is scheduled to appear virtually for his initial court appearance at 5 p.m. ET. He has been held in jail without bail since his arrest on Friday morning.
Gray said Robinson, 22, was identified as a suspect in part because his family recognized him in surveillance images released after Kirk, a married father of two, was killed last Wednesday during a crowded speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem..
“Robinson’s mother expressed concern to her husband that the suspect shooter looked like Robinson,” and Robinson’s father agreed, Gray said.
Booking photo of Tyler Robinson
Courtesy: Utah Governor’s Office
Robinson’s mother also told investigators that “over the last year or so, her son had become more political and had started to lean more to the left, becoming more pro gay and trans-rights oriented,” Gray said.
Robinson’s mother also told police that he “began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders,” the prosecutor said.
Gray also described a wide array of evidence that he said tied Robinson to Kirk’s shooting.
Those included text messages between Robinson and his roommate, and DNA that was allegedly a match to Robinson.
Gray read aloud text messages that were allegedly exchanged between Robinson and his roommate after Kirk was killed. Several of those messages contained romantic sentiments.
Gray said the roommate told police that, on the day of the shooting, Robinson texted, “Drop what you’re doing. Look under my keyboard.”
The roommate looked and found a note stating, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it,” Gray said.
CNBC has not independently verified the content of messages.
Gray was uncertain whether Robinson had retained a defense lawyer.
Kirk’s death has gripped the nation and generated highly charged reactions.
Many of Kirk’s friends and political allies have felt intense grief, and politicians across the aisle have issued forceful condemnations of political violence.
Arizonans mourn Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk outside of the Turning Point USA headquarters on Sept. 12, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Charly Triballeau | AFP | Getty Images
But some, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, have blamed the “radical left” for the killing and signaled plans to crack down on groups aligned with that ideology.
Others on the left who criticized Kirk’s right-wing politics while he was alive have continued to do so following his murder, drawing outrage from the activist’s supporters.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
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