The individual accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk has admitted to the killing, informing associates he targeted Kirk due to his political stance, according to Tuesday court filings in Utah, The Washington Post reported.
Court documents from prosecutors indicate Tyler Robinson, 22, attacked Kirk based on his "belief or perception regarding Charlie Kirk's political expression." Robinson was formally charged Tuesday with aggravated murder and six additional offenses, with prosecutors swiftly announcing their intention to seek capital punishment.
Kirk was fatally shot in the neck during a Utah Valley University campus appearance on Wednesday. His death initiated an extensive manhunt across Utah that concluded the following day when Robinson surrendered voluntarily at a sheriff's office located hundreds of miles from the university campus.
According to court filings, Robinson had expressed criticism of Kirk both before and after the shooting. Officials claim Robinson confessed to people around him following Kirk's death, acknowledging he had planned the attack in advance and initially hoped to evade capture. After the incident, prosecutors revealed Robinson's roommate found a written message under his computer keyboard stating: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it."
Robinson appeared virtually for a brief court hearing hours after being charged on Tuesday. He spoke only to provide his name and remained stoic throughout the proceeding as Judge Tony F. Graf detailed the charges. Graf ruled Robinson would be detained without bail and receive court-appointed legal representation. Robinson appeared on video from a specialized housing unit at a local detention facility wearing a bulky suicide-prevention garment, with his next court appearance set for September 29.
Court papers filed Tuesday in Utah unveiled details about the investigation into Kirk's killing. Prosecutors indicated Robinson had confessed separately to his father and roommate, both of whom responded by questioning why he killed Kirk. "I had enough of his hatred," Robinson wrote to his roommate in a text message, according to court filings. "Some hate can't be negotiated out."
Officials did not elaborate on what specific commentary or actions from Kirk they believe Robinson opposed. Court documents indicated Robinson's mother said he "had become more political and had started to lean more to the left – becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented." She also noted Robinson had been romantically involved with his roommate, "a biological male who was transitioning genders," the filing stated.
Beau Mason, commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, said in a Tuesday interview that Robinson's motive was still being investigated. "He expressed some of that motivation to his family," Mason said. "He said he didn't agree with Kirk's views, and he felt Kirk was spreading hatred. This was a politically motivated assassination based on his hatred of Charlie Kirk."
Robinson's parents recognized him — and a familiar rifle
According to Tuesday's court filing, Robinson's parents believed the person in the images that were circulated by authorities resembled their son. Law enforcement officials had also publicly described the type of rifle they believed was used in the attack, and Robinson's father believed that matched one his son received as a gift, prosecutors said.
Robinson's mother called him the day after Kirk was killed and asked where he was, officials say. "He said he was at home sick and that he had also been at home sick on September 10th," the day Kirk was killed, the court filing said. When Robinson's father spoke to him, prosecutors said, "Robinson implied that he was the shooter and stated that he couldn't go to jail and just wanted to end it." He allegedly also "explained there is too much evil and the guy [Charlie Kirk] spreads too much hate," prosecutors wrote.
Eventually, prosecutors said, Robinson was convinced to speak to a retired deputy sheriff who is a family friend, and this person convinced him to turn himself in.
"I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age"
Tuesday's court filing also quotes extensively from a text message exchange officials said Robinson had with his roommate. Investigators stated that the roommate shared those messages with the police. The first message allegedly came the day Kirk was killed, when the roommate was told to look under Robinson's keyboard and found the note about taking out Kirk. Police later found a photograph of the note, prosecutors said, though they did not specify if this was taken by Robinson's roommate or located another way.
In the messages that followed the note's discovery, prosecutors allege, Robinson quickly admitted to the shooting. "To be honest, I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age," he allegedly wrote in one message. "I am sorry to involve you," he allegedly added. Robinson said he had been planning the shooting for "a bit over a week, I believe," and described believing that if he could retrieve the rifle, "I will have left no evidence," prosecutors added.
In the messages laid out in the court filing, Robinson is quoted as telling his roommate to delete the text messages and not to speak with the police. Prosecutors charged Robinson on Tuesday with two counts of witness tampering, citing both messages. Cox said earlier this week that Robinson's roommate had been cooperating with authorities, according to The Washington Post.
Robinson appeared to have also confessed to friends in an online chat on the platform Discord before turning himself in last week. While authorities have stated that they believe Robinson acted alone, FBI Director Kash Patel testified on Tuesday on Capitol Hill that the bureau was investigating "anyone and everyone involved" in the Discord chats.
