Utah prosecutors have announced they will seek the death penalty for 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk. At a press conference, Utah County District Attorney Jeffrey Gray announced that Robinson faces seven charges, including aggravated murder and attempting to destroy evidence.
How the Murder of Charlie Kirk Happened
According to investigators, Robinson fired a rifle from the roof of a building on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, hitting Kirk in the neck. The attack occurred during an event attended by about 3,000 people.
The case includes text messages from Robinson to his roommate and lover. In them, he directly admitted to the crime: “It’s me, I’m sorry.” In another message, he explained that he could no longer put up with Kirk’s “hate.” Prosecutors also claim that Robinson prepared for the attack in advance and left a suicide note. Investigators found Robinson’s DNA on the trigger of the rifle. He turned himself in to police the next day after talking to his parents and a family friend.
Reaction to the Charkie Kirk’s murder
The murder caused a wide resonance: the tragedy was captured on video and quickly spread across social networks. Politicians of different views condemned the violence, but accusations against the opposing camps were not long in coming. Donald Trump and other Republicans said that the “radical left” was to blame.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of the Turning Point USA movement and a Trump ally, was a key figure in the conservative student movement. Critics accused him of racist and anti-LGBT rhetoric, while supporters called him a defender of traditional values and the voice of Generation Z in the MAGA camp.
Kirk’s death was another alarming signal amid the rise of political violence in the United States: from assassination attempts on Trump to the murders of politicians from different parties. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that harsh rhetoric in politics directly encourages violence.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said police are continuing to investigate the motives behind the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which 22-year-old Tyler Robinson is accused of committing.
Cox noted that conversations with relatives and friends revealed that Robinson’s views leaned left, which set him apart from his family, which traditionally votes Republican. At the same time, he is listed as an independent on the electoral rolls.
