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The 22-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk has been formally charged with aggravated murder and six other charges, including obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
Tyler Robinson is also facing the death penalty if convicted, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced at a press conference.
Officials say Robinson was radicalized online and subscribed to a “leftist” ideology, and today said the motive for the killing was a hatred of Kirk.
“There is too much evil in the guy, too much hate,” the alleged assassin said in text messages with his roommate.
Officials have said Robinson refused to cooperate with law enforcement during the investigation, after surrendering on the evening of September 11.
Earlier, it emerged that Robinson said in a group chat on Discord shortly before his arrest: “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday,” The Washington Post first reported.
Kirk, a Republican activist and co-founder of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while hosting an event at a Utah college on September 10.
The Trump administration has claimed, without presenting public evidence, that the shooting was part of an organized left-wing terror plot.
Durbin reiterates opening remarks from Kash Patel hearing
Ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin has tweeted out part of his opening remarks from today’s hearing and testimony from FBI Director Kash Patel.
Republicans are not “Nazis.”
Democrats are not “evil.”
Democrats are not responsible for the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Republicans are not responsible for the murder of Melissa Hortman.
Opponents are not enemies. We’re Americans.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 21:20
Outrage as pro-Trump rapper and country singer release pro-lynching song
Over a banjo riff, the chorus of “Good vs Evil” from MAGA rapper Forgiato Blow and country singer JJ Lawhorn repeats instructions for hanging people at “sundown,” an apparent reference to “sundown towns” that violently enforce racial segregation.
The song calls for “a big tall tree and a short piece of rope” to “hang ‘em up high at sundown” and “leave ‘em swinging so the folks all know you don’t mess around in our town.”
Alex Woodward has the story.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 21:05
Read the full text conversation between suspect and roommate
Per the charging document, on September 10, 2025, the roommate, a male transitioning to female who was in a romantic relationship with suspect Tyler Robinson, received a text message from him which said:
“drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.”
The roommate looked under the keyboard and found a note that stated, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
After reading the note, the roommate responded, “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????”
Here’s the rest of their exchange:
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: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: no, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres one vehicle lingering.
Robinson: Why did I do it?
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.
Roommate: How long have you been planning this?
Robinson: a bit over a week I believe. I can get close to it but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t wanna chance it
Robinson: 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 fuck will I explain losing it to my old man. …
only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel. …
remember how I was engraving bullets? The fuckin messages are mostly a big meme, if I see “notices bulge uwu” on fox new I might have a stroke alright im gonna have to leave it, that really fucking sucks. …
judging from today I’d say grandpas gun does just fine idk. I think that was a $2k scope ;-;
Robinson: delete this exchange
Robinson: my dad wants photos of the rifle … he says grandpa wants to know who has what, the feds released a photo of the rifle, and it is very unique. Hes calling me rn, not answering.
Robinson: since trump got into office [my dad] has been pretty diehard maga.
Robinson: Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff.
Robinson: you are all I worry about love
Roommate: I’m much more worried about you
Robinson: don’t talk to the media please. don’t take any interviews or make any comments. … if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 20:52
Bullet that killed Kirk passed close to several others
The bullet that killed Charlie Kirk passed close to several other individuals, according to the Utah County Attorney’s charging document.
Here’s the full account of the shooting released today:
The event at UVU was announced far in advance and garnered significant publicity and interest. Consequently, several hundred people attended. Mr. Kirk was interacting with the crowd before the event officially got underway. Then, approximately at noon, Mr. Kirk seated himself under a portable canopy behind a table and microphone. He began speaking to the crowd and fielding questions from attendees, a format Mr. Kirk commonly used at his events. Mr. Kirk allowed his questioners to approach a microphone positioned directly in front of him.
Mr. Kirk’s team members were very close to him on his right and left, as well as some behind his canopy and others at various close locations near him. The large crowd surrounded Mr. Kirk on three sides. Temporary metal fencing separated attendees from Mr. Kirk by only a matter of feet. Directly above and behind Mr. Kirk was the UVU Hall of Flags, an indoor walkway spanning several hundred feet with floor-to-ceiling glass windows which overlook the plaza where Mr. Kirk was seated. People were in the walkway at the time of the shooting.
Approximately fifteen minutes into the event, Mr. Kirk was answering a question about mass shootings by transgender individuals when a gunshot rang out. The bullet struck Mr. Kirk in the neck. He slumped to the ground almost immediately. The bullet’s trajectory passed closely to several other individuals beside Mr. Kirk, including the questioner who was standing directly in front of Mr. Kirk. Children were visible near Mr. Kirk’s stage when he was shot.
Mr. Kirk was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared deceased. The Medical Examiner’s report is pending.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 20:42
Watch: Utah governor fires back at ‘conflict entrepreneur’ Steve Bannon
Utah governor slams Bannon as ‘conflict entrepreneur,’ urges calm after Kirk shooting
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has fired back at “conflict entrepreneur” Steve Bannon after his calls to tone down harmful rhetoric following the murder of Charlie Kirk were dismissed. Last week, Bannon branded Cox a “national embarrassment” after the governor urged people to switch off from social media and avoid “disinformation” following the shooting on Wednesday (10 September). Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday (14 September), Cox appeared to imply that Bannon was trying to “radicalize individuals”, saying that he himself is “not one of those people”. “That’s what I appreciate most about Charlie,” Cox added. “If we don’t keep talking, that’s when the violence starts.” Speaking of Bannon, he added: “But he is right at this: we need to find out how this happened, and we need to stop it from happening [again].”
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 20:40
What did the inscriptions say on the shell casings?
According to the Tyler Robinson charging documents, each round in the rifle contained an etched inscription as follows:
NoTices Bulge OWO What’s This?
Hey Facist! Catch! [arrow symbols]
O Bella ciao, Bella ciao Bella ciao Ciao, ciao!
If you Read This, You Are GAY Lmao
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 20:35
Robinson implied he might take his own life when parents asked about crime
Prosecutors said that suspect Tyler Robinson, 22, “implied that he planned to take his own life” when his parents asked him if he knew anything about the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
After his mother thought the pictures released by authorities looked like him, she and his father called their son, asking what he knew about the crime, officials said.
“Robinson implied that he planned to take his own life. Robinson’s parents were able to convince him to meet at their home,” Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said.
“Robinson’s parents were able to convince him to meet at their home. As they discussed the situation, Robinson implied that he was the shooter and stated that he couldn’t go on and just wanted to end it.”
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 20:28
House GOP pushes $88 million in post-Kirk assassination security measures in stopgap funding bill
The House of Representatives plans to vote this week on a stopgap bill to prevent a government shutdown that will include $88 million to enhance security for federal officials following the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk, sources told Reuters.
They aim to vote by Friday on funds available through November 21, House Republican leadership sources said Tuesday, which would give Congress another seven weeks to reach an agreement on funding the government for the upcoming fiscal year that starts next month. The federal budget is approximately $7 trillion annually.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said that his party, which controls the House, will introduce a “clean” continuing resolution, which would fund the government at current levels, with extra money allocated for security.
Kirk’s killing last week “initiated a number of uncomfortable but necessary conversations about important issues like the safety and security of our members, the responsibility of public service, and the need for political leaders to reduce the tone and violent rhetoric in America,” Johnson said.
The bill includes $30 million for security for members of Congress, $30 million for the executive branch, and $28 million for members of the Supreme Court, according to House Republican leaders.
Democrats have also called for increased security measures, but party leaders have not yet endorsed this stopgap funding proposal, as the minority party leadership states they are waiting to see the Republicans’ proposal in writing and are encouraging bipartisan negotiations on government funding.
Bipartisan support in funding the government is especially important in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-seat majority and will need support from at least seven Democrats to achieve the 60 votes required to pass funding legislation.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 20:22
Full story: Charlie Kirk suspect’s texts with roommate shed light on motive
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray outlined the charges against Robinson at a press conference Tuesday ahead of the suspect’s first court appearance, which is due to take place virtually at 5 p.m. ET.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 20:06
Rifle used in shooting of Kirk belonged to suspect’s grandfather
The rifle used in the shooting of Charlie Kirk belonged to suspect Tyler Robinson’s grandfather.
He hid the rifle after the incident and told his roommate via text: “If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence.”
Kirk’s alleged killer also praised the rifle after assassinating the conservative activist, telling the roommate: “Judging from today, I would say grandpa’s gun does just fine, idk.”
Robinson was allegedly worried about leaving his grandfather’s rifle at the scene. “How the f*** would I explain losing it to my old man?”
DNA matching Robinson was found on the trigger of the rifle, and some of the shell casings.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 19:49