Utah officials announced on Tuesday that they are seeking the death penalty against Charlie Kirk’s accused killer.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray disclosed that the person who initially recognized Tyler Robinson as the shooter of Kirk, 31, at Utah Valley University last Wednesday was Robinson’s mother. After seeing images of the suspect on the news, she contacted Robinson—who claimed he was home sick—before telling her husband of her concerns.
Moreover, Gray shared alleged Discord chats where Robinson admitted to his roommate that he was the shooter and was trying to recover his rifle from the crime scene. The rifle was later found, wrapped in a towel, in a nearby wooded area.
Robinson supposedly wrote, “They initially detained an old man and questioned someone dressed similarly. I intended to retrieve my rifle shortly after, but much of that area was under lockdown,” in his messages.
Gray also noted that Robinson mentioned planning Kirk’s murder over the course of about a week and executing it with his grandfather’s rifle.
“I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out,” Robinson allegedly wrote, referring to Kirk.
The FBI reported that Robinson’s DNA was discovered on a towel that covered the Mauser .30 caliber bolt-action rifle that allegedly fired at Kirk, as well as on a screwdriver located on the roof of the Losee Center, which is believed to be his shooting spot.
On the day of the incident, Kirk was at the university to kick off his “The American Comeback” tour, involving political debates with the audience. Officials suspect Robinson escaped by leaping from the roof to a nearby neighborhood.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox claimed the cartridges from the rifle had various messages, including, “hey fascist! catch!” with several arrows, “oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao,” and “if you read this you are gay lmao.”
The spent casing reportedly had the message, “notices bulges oWo what’s this.”
Jailed without bail, Robinson is charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. He is due in court on Tuesday.
[Feature Photo: Utah Governor’s Office]
