Tyler Robinson shot Charlie Kirk during a campus event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in front of 500 attendees, including families and children.
Robinson allegedly planned the killing for over a week, motivated by ideological rage against Kirk’s right-wing politics, and left written and digital confessions.
Prosecutors are pursuing capital punishment, citing the ideological motive, child witnesses, and premeditation, as the case intensifies fears of escalating political violence ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterms.
Death Penalty Sought In Charlie Kirk Killing
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old student, faces capital charges for the premeditated sniper killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk during a university event, exposing deep political divisions and online radicalisation in a volatile election year.
Summary
Prosecutors in Utah have announced they will seek the death penalty against 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating prominent conservative commentator Charlie Kirk during a campus event last week. Robinson, a third-year trade college student, appeared virtually in court Tuesday, facing multiple felony charges including aggravated murder, as authorities detailed a confession-laden plot driven by ideological rage.
The fatal shooting occurred on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem, approximately 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. Kirk, 32, the co-founder and president of Turning Point USA—a nonprofit known for mobilizing young conservatives—was addressing a crowd of about 500 students and supporters when a single rifle shot struck him in the chest from a nearby rooftop.
According to AP news, the suspect's roommate and romantic partner, played a pivotal role in unraveling the case. Shortly after the shooting, Robinson sent frantic text messages confessing: "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out," and "I am [the shooter], I'm sorry." He directed the roommate to retrieve a handwritten note from under his keyboard, which read: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it." .
The motive, prosecutors allege, as cited by AP news, was rooted in Robinson's growing disdain for Kirk's outspoken conservatism on issues like gender, race, and election integrity. Kirk, a vocal Trump ally and podcaster with millions of followers, had drawn fierce criticism from progressive circles for his rhetoric, which some labeled inflammatory. Robinson's mother told investigators of her son's recent immersion in "dark corners of the internet," where his views had radicalized.
As reported by Reutures, FBI Director Kash Patel, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighted the role of digital forensics in the probe, including the engraved rifle and a screwdriver left on the rooftop. "This isn't just a crime; it's a symptom of our divided nation," Patel said, vowing a broader investigation into potential online influences.
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