Charlie Kirk murder suspect could face death penalty on aggravated murder charge

PROVO (Utah), Sept 17 — The man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk appeared in a Utah court yesterday, facing charges of aggravated murder as prosecutors confirmed they would seek the death penalty in a case that has gripped the nation.

Kirk, 31, a close ally of President Donald Trump and founder of student movement Turning Point USA, was fatally shot in the neck last week during an event at a university campus in Utah, sparking mourning across the political right and intensifying political divisions.

The suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, allegedly fired the fatal shot from a rooftop before fleeing. A 33-hour manhunt ended when his parents persuaded him to surrender after recognising him in wanted photos.

Robinson, clad in a suicide-prevention smock, spoke only to confirm his name during the court hearing, remaining silent as District Judge Tony Graf read out seven charges, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering for allegedly telling his roommate to remain quiet.

“I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty,” Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced at a press conference earlier, stressing that the decision was made independently based on the evidence and gravity of the crime.

Prosecutors revealed that text messages between Robinson and his roommate — described as a transgender individual with whom he was in a relationship — suggested he had planned the killing. In one note left under his keyboard, Robinson allegedly wrote: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”

When asked by the roommate why he killed Kirk, Robinson allegedly replied: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.” He then instructed the roommate to delete the messages.

Kirk, a father of two, was a polarising figure known for his online presence on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where he frequently criticised transgender rights and shared debate clips from his college appearances.

The FBI has faced backlash over its handling of the immediate aftermath, including announcing an arrest just hours after the shooting — only to release the suspect soon after. Separately, one of two individuals initially detained was later charged with child pornography possession, though officials clarified it was unrelated to Kirk’s killing.

On Monday, the White House announced plans to investigate what it described as a left-wing “domestic terror movement” following the assassination, raising concerns among critics that the campaign could be used to stifle political dissent. — AFP