Tyler Robinson Appears Before A Judge; Prosecutors Lay Out Evidence Against Him, Including His Own Text Message Confession
A chilling new indictment reveals how 22-year-old Tyler Robinson allegedly carried out a politically-motivated assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk — and left a trail of confessions behind.
Robinson will face aggravated murder and six other charges related to Kirk’s death, which happened last Wednesday while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Robinson had his first court appearance virtually Tuesday, wearing a suicide-prevention vest. He showed little emotion as a judge read the charges, including the prosecution’s intention to seek the death penalty. Judge Tony Graf granted a protective order for Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, that prohibits Robinson from contacting her. Robinson will be appointed an attorney and
Judge Tony Graf granted a protective order for Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, that prohibits Robinson from contacting her.
He also found that Robinson is unable to afford a lawyer on his own, and he will get a court-appointed attorney.
INSIDE LATEST COURT FILINGS
Prosecutors say Robinson left a note under his keyboard for his roommate/transgender partner, stating: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
In text messages after the shooting, Robinson confessed to his roommate, who asked him why he did it. Robinson referred to Kirk’s “hatred,” saying: “Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
When the roommate asked Robinson if he was joking, Robinson responded, “I am still okay, my love, but I’m 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’d hope to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.”
He claimed he hoped to retrieve the rifle from a hidden drop point and escape, but got stuck in Orem, Utah when the city locked down.
He also texted about engraving his bullets, saying, “The fuckin messages are mostly a big meme, if I see “notices bulge uwu” on fox new(s) I might have a stroke”
Police later recovered the rifle — wrapped in a towel — with Robinson’s DNA on it.
Robinson told his roommate/partner to delete the text messages and avoid media. One of the charges Robinson now faces is witness tampering for these interactions.
MORE FROM THE INDICTMENT
After recognizing his son in surveillance footage, Robinson’s father asked him to send a photo of the rifle gifted to him by a family member, but got no response. When they spoke by phone, Robinson implied he planned to take his own life.
His parents persuaded him to come to their home, where he confessed to the shooting — saying he couldn’t go to jail and that Kirk spreads too much hate, according to prosecutors. Soon thereafter, he surrendered peacefully.
In the indictment, Robinson’s mother told investigators that over the past year, her son had grown increasingly political — leaning toward progressive, pro-LGBTQ+ views that clashed with his family’s more conservative stance.
WHAT’S NEXT
Utah County District Attorney Jeffrey Gray said Tuesday that Robinson is believed to have targeted Kirk for his "political expression," and opened fire "knowing that children were present and would witness the homicide." Prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
The next hearing for Robinson will be on Sept. 29.