The Utah Attorney General's Office announced that Tyler Robinson, the prime suspect in the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has been charged with intentional murder with aggravating circumstances, a crime that carries the death penalty.

According to the announcement by prosecutor Jeff Gray, a notice of intent to seek the ultimate sentence has already been filed.

He stated that a total of seven charges were brought against Robinson, including obstruction of justice for concealing evidence and witness tampering for asking his roommate to delete messages.

He also stressed that the decision to seek the death penalty was made independently, based solely on the available evidence and the nature of the crime.

The defendant will remain in custody without the right to be released on bail.

The prosecutor said Robinson asked his roommate to delete incriminating messages and to remain silent if questioned by police.

The defendant's communications with his friends have been the subject of intensive investigation by the authorities.

The charging documents include a text message conversation that Tyler Robinson exchanged with his roommate and romantic partner shortly after the murder, in which, according to prosecutors, he admits to his actions.

• I've had enough of his hate, Robinson wrote, referring to Charlie Kirk. Some hate is unmanageable.
• His partner responded in shock, according to the transcript of the conversation by authorities: You weren't the one who did it, were you?????
• I was, I'm sorry, Robinson replied.

Robinson's politicization

According to the prosecution, Robinson's mother explained that over the past year or so, the son had become more political and had begun to lean more to the left and pro-gay and pro-trans rights.

The prosecutor added that Robinson began dating his roommate, a man who was in the process of transitioning. This led to several arguments with family members, but especially between Robinson and his father, who have very different political views. In a conversation before the murder, Robinson mentioned that Charlie Kirk was going to hold an event at UVU, which Robinson called a stupid place to hold the event. Robinson accused Kirk of spreading hate.

Robinson's father said that when his wife showed him the security camera image of the suspect that appeared on the news, he agreed that he looked like their son.

He himself, according to the prosecution, believed that the rifle that the police suspected was used matched the one that had been 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.

After a conversation with his father, Robinson indicated that he intended to end his life. His parents convinced him to meet them at their home. As they discussed the situation, Robinson implied that he was the perpetrator and stated that he could not go to prison and simply wanted to be done with it. When asked why he did it, Robinson explained that there was too much evil and that Kirk was spreading too much hatred.

They discussed turning him in and convinced him to talk to a family friend who is a retired deputy sheriff. At the request of Robinson's father, the family friend met with the 22-year-old and his parents and convinced him to turn himself in.

The family friend spoke to police and said he told Robinson it would be best to bring all the evidence to the sheriff's office to avoid having police search his parents' home, the prosecutor said, adding: The family friend also asked Robinson if he had any clothes related to what he had done. Robinson replied that he had dumped the clothes in different areas.

The role of the roommate

Police questioned Robinson's roommate. The roommate told police that he had received messages from Robinson about the murder and gave them to police.

On September 10, 2025, the roommate received a text message from Robinson that said: Drop what you're doing, look under my keyboard. The roommate looked under the keyboard and found a note that said: I had the chance to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it .

The police found a photo of this note.

The exchange of messages

The prosecution presented an exchange of messages between Robinson and his roommate.

• After reading the note, the roommate replied : Tiii Sorry to get you involved.
• Roommate : You weren't the one who did it, were you?;;;
• Robinson : I was, sorry.
• Roommate : I thought they caught the person?
• Robinson : No, they caught some crazy old guy, then they interrogated someone in similar clothes. I was going to get my rifle from where I left it a little later, but most of that area of town was blocked off. It's quiet, I can almost get out, but there's a vehicle that's still there.
• Roommate : Why?
• Robinson : Why did I do it?
• Roommate : Yeah.
• Robinson : I've put up with his hate enough. Some hate you can't handle. If I can get my rifle without being seen, I won't have left any evidence. I'm trying to get it back, I hope they've moved on. I haven't seen anything about them finding it.
• Roommate : How long have you been planning this?
• Robinson : A little over a week, I think. I can get close, but there's a patrol car parked next to it. I think they're already doing a search there, but I don't want to risk it.
• Robinson : I wish I had turned back and gotten it when I got to my vehicle... I'm worried about what my old man would do if I didn't bring back Grandpa's rifle... I don't even know if it had a serial number, but he wouldn't be able to connect me to it. I'm worried about prints, I left it in a bush where I changed clothes. I didn't have the ability or the time to take it with me... I might have to abandon it and hope they don't find prints. How the hell am I going to explain that I lost it to my old man... All I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel... Remember when I was marking bullets? The g… messages are mostly a big meme, if I see notices bulge uwu on Fox News I might have a stroke. Okay, I'll probably have to leave it there, that g… crap… Judging from today I'd say grandpa's rifle works just fine idk. I think it had a $2,000 scope ?-;

…

Robinson : Delete this conversation.

Robinson : My father wants pictures of the rifle... he says grandpa wants to know who has what, the cops took a picture of the rifle and it's very unique. He's calling me now, I don't answer.

…

Robinson : Since Trump took office, [my father] has become a total MAGA fanatic.

…

Robinson : I will surrender myself, one of my neighbors here is a deputy sheriff.

Robinson : You're all I care about, love.

Roommate : I'm much more worried about you.

Robinson : Please don't talk to the media. Don't give any interviews or comments... If the cops ask you, get a lawyer and stay silent.

The chronicle of the crime

Robinson is accused of firing from a rooftop sniper position, with a bullet piercing Kirk's neck last Wednesday, on Utah Valley University's campus in Orem, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.

The murder, which was recorded on video and widely circulated online, sparked strong accusations of political violence, as well as an exchange of accusations between political opponents, with fears that a new wave of bloody incidents could follow.

Kirk, co-founder and leader of the student movement Turning Point USA and a close ally of President Donald Trump, was speaking in front of 3,000 people when he was shot.

Robinson initially fled in the chaos that followed the incident. He was arrested Thursday night at his parents' home, about 260 miles southwest of the scene of the attack, after relatives and a family friend tipped him off to his involvement in the murder.

The defendant was scheduled to appear via video link from his cell in a Utah courthouse in the city of Provo.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said the state is willing to support the pursuit of the death penalty, but prosecutors will also take into account the wishes of Kirk's family.