Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Charged, Could Face Firing Squad, as Officials Release Messages Confessing to Lover Roommate

Charlie Kirk’s accused killer was formally charged with seven counts on Tuesday including aggravated murder and a judge ordered him held without bail during a virtual court appearance.Tyler Robinson appeared in front of Judge Tony Graf via a video link from the Utah County Jail. Mr. Robinson was wearing a bulletproof vest during the hearing as Judge Graf granted Mr. Robinson’s request for a court-appointed order.Judge Graf set Mr. Robinson’s next hearing date for September 29. That hearing will also be via video from the jail.Earlier in the afternoon, the Utah County attorney, Jeff Gray, laid out the evidence against Tyler Robinson in a press conference and said he was filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty, which could be carried out by a firing squad instead of lethal injection if the state had trouble obtaining the necessary lethal injection drugs. “I do not take this decision lightly,” Mr. Gray said.Mr. Gray disclosed that Mr. Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the gun believed to have been used to kill Kirk, along with other parts of the rifle, the fired cartridge casing, two of the three unfired cartridges, and the towel the gun was found wrapped inside.A Utah Valley University police officer had been scanning the crowd from an elevated location at the time of the shooting and identified the roof of the Losee Center as a spot where the shot might have originated, Mr. Gray said. The officer ran to the building and saw the imprints in the gravel on the roof that appeared to show someone had been in a prone position. That prompted a quick review of security footage that showed the shooter had been on the roof.Mr. Gray said that after photos of the suspect were released, Mr. Robinson’s mother thought it was her son and called him. Mr. Gray said Mr. Robinson told her he had been home sick. She talked to her husband, who agreed it might be him.When they called him together, Mr. Gray says Mr. Robinson told them he planned to kill himself. “There is too much evil and the guy spreads too much hate,” Mr. Robinson allegedly told his parents. They convinced him to come to their home and they started the process that ended with him turning himself in.Mr. Robinson’s mother told investigators that her son had become more political and leaned to the left in his views and had become “more gay- and trans-rights-oriented” and had started dating his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning.Mr. Gray also released the text message chain between Mr. Robinson and his roommate, which the roommate turned over to investigators. Mr. Robinson texted his roommate, “Drop what you are doing. Look under my keyboard.” There was a note that allegedly said: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”After reading the note the roommate texted back: “What, you’re joking, right.”Mr. Robinson responded, “I am still OK, my love, but I’m stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home but I got to grab my rifle still. To be honest, I wanted to keep this secret until I was dying as an old man. Sorry to involve you.”Roommate: “You weren’t the one who did it, right?”Mr. Robinson: “I am. I am. Sorry.”Roommate: “I thought they caught the person.”Mr. 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. It’s quiet almost enough to get out but there’s one vehicle lingering.”Roommate: “Why?”Mr. Robinson: “Why did I do it?” Roommate: “Yeah?”Mr. Robinson: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I’m able to grab my rifle on scene, 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.”Mr. Robinson later went on to tell his roommate to delete their text message exchange and complained that his father had become “pretty diehard” MAGA since President Trump was elected.”Mr. Robinson then texted: “Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff. you are all I worry about love.”Roommate: “I’m much more worried about you.”Mr. 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.”Mr. Gray declined to answer questions about whether Mr. Robinson’s roommate could face charges.Because of the capital murder charge, Mr. Robinson is being held without bail in the Utah County Jail. He was set to have a virtual court hearing later on Tuesday.

Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Charged, Could Face Firing Squad, as Officials Release Messages Confessing to Lover Roommate

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