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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. The accused appeared virtually from jail before a judge at an initial hearing, with the next court date set for September 29.
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. He showed no emotion during Tuesday’s hearing.
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.
Man, 71, told cops he shot Charlie Kirk in order to give real shooter time to escape
A 71-year-old audience member present when Charlie Kirk was shot dead, shouted at a police officer, “I shot him, now shoot me”, in a bid to give the real shooter more time to escape, police have said.
New police documents obtained by news outlet Fox13 allege that the man, named as George Zinn, drew police focus in the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s shooting, which led to him being charged with obstruction of justice.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 22:45
Speaker Johnson says politicians shouldn’t call opponents ‘enemies’ — but won’t criticize Trump for doing just that
House Speaker Mike Johnson said political leaders should not call their opponents “enemies” — but declined to criticize Donald Trump for his long-running habit of doing exactly that.
Johnson urged lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to respectfully engage with each other and to “turn down the temperature and the violent rhetoric” following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last Wednesday.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 22:30
Reminder: The charges filed against Robinson
Count 1: Aggravated murder
Count 2: Felony discharge of firearm
(Aggregating factors on counts 1 and 2, based on targeting Kirk based on political expression and knowing children were present and would witness the homicide)
Count 3: Obstruction of justice, for moving and concealing rifle
Count 4: Obstruction of justice, for disposing clothing
Count 5: Witness tampering, for directing roommate to delete texts
Count 6: Witness tampering, directing roommate to stay silent
Count 7: Commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child, for committing homicide knowing children present
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 22:28
Next hearing set for September 29
Judge Tony Graf sets the next court date, again virtually, for September 29 at 10 a.m.
Earlier, Robinson nodded when the judge told him he would remain jailed, without bail, while the case proceeds.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 22:16
Judge to appoint lawyer to represent Robinson
Tyler Robinson appears at his first court hearing (via REUTERS)
Judge Tony Graf, of the Fourth District Court, determines that Tyler Robinson is indigent.
He will appoint a lawyer to represent him.
The judge is now reading the charges out to Robinson, noting that he possibly faces the death penalty.
Robinson appears to be listening closely and showing no emotion.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 22:09
Robinson appears virtually for his first court hearing
Tyler Robinson, the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk, is appearing virtually in his first court appearance.
He is sitting in front of a white wall and wearing what looks like a green vest.
Robinson stated his name to the judge.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 22:06
How did Tyler Robinson come to turn himself in?
According to the charging document, on the evening of September 11, 2025, as law enforcement continued their investigation, Tyler Robinson went to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with his parents and a family friend to turn himself in.
Here’s what we learned today about what his parents told the authorities:
Robinson’s mother stated the following to police. On September 11, 2025, the day after the shooting, Robinson’s mother saw the photo of the shooter in the news and thought the shooter looked like her son. Robinson’s mother called her son and asked him where he was. He said he was at home sick and that he had also been at home sick on September 10th. Robinson’s mother expressed concern to her husband that the suspected shooter looked like Robinson. Robinson’s father agreed.
Robinson’s mother explained that over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political and had started to lean more to the left – becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented. She stated that Robinson began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders. This resulted in several discussions with family members, but especially between Robinson and his father, who have very different political views. In one conversation before the shooting, Robinson mentioned that Charlie Kirk would be holding an event at UVU, which Robinson said was a “stupid venue” for the event. Robinson accused Kirk of spreading hate.
Robinson’s father reported that when his wife showed him the surveillance image of the suspected shooter in the news, he agreed that it looked like their son. He also believed that the rifle that police suspected the shooter used matched a rifle that was 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. However, Robinson’s father spoke on the phone with Robinson. Robinson implied that he planned to take his own life. 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 to jail and just wanted to end it. When asked why he did it, Robinson explained there is too much evil and the guy [Charlie Kirk] spreads too much hate. They talked about Robinson turning himself in and convinced Robinson to speak with a family friend who is a retired deputy sheriff. At Robinson’s father’s request, the family friend met with Robinson and his parents and convinced Robinson to turn himself in.
The family friend spoke to police and reported telling Robinson that it would be best if he brought all evidence with him to the sheriff’s office to avoid police having to search his parent’s home. The family friend also asked Robinson if he had any clothes that were related to what he did. Robinson replied that he had disposed of the clothes in different areas.
Oliver O’Connell16 September 2025 21:40
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