A Utah court on Tuesday formally charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, with prosecutors announcing their intention to pursue the death penalty.
According to the AFP, Kirk, 31, founder of the student movement Turning Point USA and a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot in the neck during a campus event in Utah last week.
The incident, which unfolded in front of a large audience, has sparked outrage across the United States and deepened political divisions.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray told reporters: “I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. I do not take this decision lightly, and it is one I have made independently, based solely on the evidence, the circumstances, and the nature of the crime.”
Robinson was captured 33 hours after the shooting when his parents persuaded him to surrender following the release of his photographs by law enforcement. At his court appearance, Robinson, wearing a suicide-prevention smock, confirmed his identity but made no further statements.
Judge Tony Graf read out seven charges, the most serious being aggravated murder.
Other charges include obstruction of justice and witness tampering, tied to allegations that Robinson ordered his roommate to remain silent.
Prosecutors also revealed what they believe may have been Robinson’s motive.
According to Gray, Robinson exchanged a series of text messages with his roommate—identified as a transgender individual with whom Robinson was romantically involved. In one message, Robinson reportedly left a note saying: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
When asked by the roommate why he killed Kirk, Robinson allegedly replied: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Kirk, a father of two, had built a massive following across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube by promoting conservative causes and voicing strong opposition to transgender rights. He was widely regarded as a polarizing figure on U.S. campuses, often posting edited clips of fiery debates with critics.
Meanwhile, federal authorities are facing criticism for their initial handling of the case. FBI Director Kash Patel was accused of missteps after announcing an arrest shortly after the shooting, only to retract it two hours later.
The White House on Monday described the killing as part of a broader threat from a “domestic terror movement,” raising concerns among civil rights advocates that the move could be used to clamp down on political dissent.
