() Charlie Kirk’s accused killer could face execution by firing squad if prosecutors secure a guilty verdict and seek the death penalty against him.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested and booked into a Utah jail after being taken into custody late Thursday at around 10 p.m. local time.
He reportedly fired a shot at Kirk from a rooftop, situated 200 yards away from where the conservative activist delivered his speech at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
Sources indicated that Robinson admitted to his father and came under the FBI’s scrutiny after being initially identified using facial recognition techniques.
Robinson was apprehended on charges of capital murder, alongside weapons and obstruction offenses. Formal charges are expected early next week before his initial court hearing.
Utah governor pushing for death penalty
Prior to Robinson’s arrest, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox expressed that he desired Kirk’s assailant to receive capital punishment, labeling Wednesday’s incident a “political assassination.”
The president echoed that sentiment in an interview with “Fox & Friends” Friday as he announced a suspect was arrested.
“I hope he’s found guilty, I would imagine,” Trump said. “And I hope he gets the death penalty.”
According to arrest documents, state officials plan to seek the death penalty. Robinson could be executed by firing squad, as Utah is among the five states—alongside Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and South Carolina—that permit this method under certain conditions.
Since 1608, at least 144 civilian prisoners have been executed by shooting in America, nearly all in Utah.
What we know about Tyler Robinson
Robinson briefly attended Utah State University for a semester in 2021, according to the institution. He pursued pre-engineering before taking a leave of absence after just one semester.
Police arrested him after speaking with his family and roommate, who showed them Discord messages from Robinson discussing the need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush and engraving bullets. The messages also mentioned a scope and the rifle being unique, according to his arrest affidavit.
The suspect has no known criminal history but had recently become “more political,” his family said. A family member recalled a conversation at the dinner table in which Robinson talked about Kirk.
“They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had,” Cox said. “The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.”
Ammunition found at the scene had engravings on it that referenced meme culture and fascism, police said, and an official motive in the shooting has not yet been revealed.
‘s Sean Noone and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
