UTAH COUNTY, Utah, Sept. 16, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced Tuesday that the death penalty will be sought for Tyler James Robinson, the accused killer of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, 31, who was shot Sept. 10 while speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 at Utah Valley University.
“I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty,” Gray said. “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, because we are seeking the death penalty. The defendant will continue to be held without bail in the Utah County jail.”
Gray announced Robinson, 22, will face charges including:
- Aggravated murder, a capital offense and first-degree felony, “for intentionally or knowingly causing the death of Charlie Kirk under circumstances that created a great risk of death to others,” Gray said.
- Felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony. Gray said he is alleging aggravating factors on counts one and two, “because the defendant is believed to have targeted Charlie Kirk based on Charlie Kirk’s political expression, and if so, knowing the children were present and would witness the homicide.”
- Obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, “for moving and concealing the rifle used in the shooting.”
- Obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, “for disposing of the clothing he wore during the shooting.”
- Witness tampering, a third-degree felony, “for directing his roommate to delete his incriminating texts.”
- Witness tampering, a third-degree felony, “for directing his roommate to stay silent if police questioned him.”
- Commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child, a class A misdemeanor, for “knowing the children were present and may have seen or heard the murder and did so based on Charlie Kirk’s political expression.”
During an arraignment in Utah County’s Fourth District Court on Tuesday afternoon — Robinson, in his first court appearance since turning himself in — remained largely silent throughout the proceeding, which he attended via video link from the Utah County Jail in Spanish Fork, where he is being held.
Clad in protective body armor, Robinson responded quickly and clearly to Judge Tony F. Graf’s request that he identify himself. He also showed no reaction upon hearing officially in open court that prosecutors were seeking the death penalty.
Charlie Kirk. File photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
Evidence
Prior to Robinson’s hearing, Gray presented evidence in a Tuesday news conference that claimed DNA found on the rifle matched Robinson’s. Gray also cited text messages sent to Robinson’s Washington City roommate and romantic partner, identified by Gray as a “biological male” and transgender female, which prosecutors say prove he was behind the shooting.
The text exchange, Gray said, is as follows:
Robinson: “I am still ok my love, but am 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 had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.
Roommate: you weren’t the one who did it right????
Robinson: I am, I’m sorry.
Roommate: Why?
Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it. … I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle. I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits. didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with. I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the f— will I explain losing it to my old man. only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel.
Photos released by the Utah Department of Public Safety
Gray also said Robinson directed his roommate to look under the keyboard. The roommate found a note saying “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
The arrest
Gray also said Robinson’s father thought he recognized his son in photos released of the shooter. The father asked Robinson to send a picture of the distinctive gun he had gifted his son. Robinson did not respond to the photo request, Gray said.
A group including Robinson, his father and a family friend with a law enforcement background took the alleged shooter to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, where Robinson turned himself in.
Robinson’s first court appearance happened at about 3 p.m. Tuesday. He appeared remotely, from the Utah County jail, before Fourth District Court Judge Tony F. Graf.
Wearing jail-provided body armor, Robinson stood motionless during the arraignment, speaking only once when he uttered his name.
His next court appearance, where he will again appear through a video feed and not in person, is set for Sept. 29.
Tyler Robinson booking photos shared by the Office of Gov. Spencer Cox.
