Utah County attorney to seek death penalty against alleged Charlie Kirk assassin
PROVO, Utah (KSL) — The man suspected of shooting and killing conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University was charged with aggravated murder on Tuesday, a capital felony.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray says he will file a notice of intent on Tuesday to seek the death penalty.
The murder comes with a "victim targeting" penalty enhancement if convicted, which is defined in court documents as "Tyler James Robinson intentionally selected Charlie Kirk because of Tyler James Robinson's belief or perception regarding Charlie Kirk's political expression."
In addition, Robinson, 22, of Washington, Washington County, who is currently being held in the Utah County Jail was charged in 4th District Court with felony discharge of a firearm causing injury, a first-degree felony; two counts of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; two counts of witness tampering, a third-degree felony; and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child, a class A misdemeanor.
Security around the Utah County Health and Justice Center, where the press conference took place, was extremely tight Tuesday morning. Deputies and officers from the Utah County Sheriff's Office and Provo Police Department were in heavy presence outside the building. Officers with police K-9s were seen going through the parking lot and the exterior of the building.
When Gray held a press conference in May of 2024 to announce charges against Michael Aaron Jayne, 42 — the man accused of killing Santaquin Police Sgt. Bill Hooser — Gray declined to say at that time whether he intended to seek the death penalty. It wasn't until October of 2024 that Gray filed notice that his office would pursue the death penalty against Jayne if convicted.
In Utah, if a judge finds there is enough probable cause during a preliminary hearing against a defendant charged with aggravated murder for the case to proceed to trial, the defendant will then enter a plea at his arraignment. After the arraignment, prosecutors have 60 days to file a notice of intent seeking the death penalty.
In August, prosecutors in Box Elder County wasted no time announcing their intention to seek the death penalty against the man accused of killing two Tremonton-Garland police officers. Ryan Michael Bate, 30, of Tremonton, was charged with two counts of aggravated murder, a capital offense. The Box Elder County Attorney's Office filed its notice to seek the death penalty at the same time it filed charges against Bate.
After Robinson is charged, an initial appearance in 4th District Court is scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. That hearing is expected to be brief and Robinson will not be in the courtroom in person, but rather via livestream from the Utah County Jail. During the court hearing, Robinson will be informed of the charges filed against him, a judge will determine whether he has the funds to hire his own attorney, and future court dates will be scheduled.
In Utah, an attorney representing an indigent defendant in a death penalty case must meet certain stringent qualifications, such as having prior experience in a homicide case.
On Sept. 10, Kirk, 31, was sitting under a tent of an outdoor amphitheater-courtyard area speaking in front of approximately 3,000 people when he was shot in the neck by a man on the roof of the nearby Losee Center building from about 175 to 200 yards away.
Investigators recovered a Mauser Model 98, .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle with a scope in a nearby wooded area. Bullet casings with inscriptions written on them were also recovered.
"Inscriptions on a fired casing read, 'Notices Buldge OWO what's this?' Inscriptions on the three unfired casings read: 'hey fascist! CATCH!'" followed by an up arrow symbol, a right arrow symbol and three down arrow symbols.
"A second unfired casing read, 'O Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Ciao, ciao!,' A third unfired casing read, 'If you read This, you are GAY Lmao,'" according to a police booking affidavit.
"Bella Ciao" is an Italian song dedicated to those who fought against the occupying troops of Nazi Germany and other fascist forces during the liberation of Italy.
Robinson was in custody by late Thursday night and arrested by the State Bureau of Investigations and the FBI early Friday morning in southern Utah. After being arrested in southern Utah, he was taken to Utah County, where he was booked into jail.
