The death penalty is now on the table in the case against the 22-year-old accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, made his first court appearance Tuesday virtually from Utah County Jail. He was initially booked on charges of aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm.
“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said at a press conference Tuesday. “Charlie Kirk was murdered while engaging in one of our most sacred and cherished American rights.”
While prosecutors haven’t laid out a clear motive, conservatives — including Vice President JD Vance — have already blamed left-wing extremism and social media networks for playing a role in Kirk’s death.
Here’s a closer look at the additional charges Robinson now faces.
Does Robinson face any other charges?
Prosecutors have since expanded the case against Robinson. In addition to his other charges, Gray said he will face aggravated murder — a capital offense that’s eligible for the death penalty. Utah is one of the few states that still allows capital punishment, and unlike most, it authorizes not just lethal injection but, in certain cases, execution by firing squad — making the charge especially significant.
“I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently as county attorney based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime,” Gray said during a press conference.
Robinson is also being charged with felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice, with prosecutors adding aggravating factors and arguing he targeted Kirk because of his political expression. Prosecutors also pointed to forensic evidence tying him directly to the weapon: DNA on the trigger of the rifle that killed Kirk matched Robinson’s.
On top of that, prosecutors have filed multiple counts of witness tampering. They say Robinson told his roommate to delete “incriminating texts” and to “stay silent if police questioned him.”
So far, there’s no sign Robinson will face federal charges, though federal officials are working closely with Utah authorities on the case.
Have any other major details emerged?
According to charging documents, prosecutors highlighted a series of exchanges between Robinson and his roommate — who was also his romantic partner — that point to his intent. On the day of the shooting, Robinson texted the roommate: “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.” There, the roommate found a note that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
In another message, Robinson allegedly wrote: “I had enough of his hatred,” referring to Kirk. “Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
That may not have been his only admission. In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel stated that officials are investigating a Discord chat room frequented by Robinson, which may contain incriminating messages.
Roughly two hours before his arrest, Robinson told a private chat group: “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all … It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all of this.” In the same exchange, he suggested he would surrender “through a sheriff friend … thanks for all the good times and laughs.”
The “sheriff friend” Robinson mentioned was in fact a retired law enforcement officer and family friend, who ended up driving him and his parents to the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Nate Brooksby later revealed it nearly didn’t happen — Robinson had been considering suicide until his parents persuaded him to surrender instead. It was his mother who first recognized him in news photos of the gunman: a slender young man in dark clothes and Converse sneakers.
But when these images first began circulating online, he tried to deflect with dark humor, telling the group that a “doppelgänger” was being framed. Patel confirmed the FBI is reviewing Robinson’s Discord activity and said agents are tracking down everyone who may have seen him discuss the attack — a number he suggested is “a lot more” than 20.
Kash Patel comes under fire for how he handled the manhunt
Patel spent more than four and a half hours on Capitol Hill Tuesday, facing sharp questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee about his leadership of the bureau and the investigation into Kirk’s assassination.
The FBI director has been criticized for his handling of the case, particularly a series of confusing social media posts last week. At one point, he prematurely announced that a “subject” was in custody; that person was then released before Robinson’s arrest. Patel defended the move: “I don’t see it as a mistake. I see it as working with the public to identify that there was a subject in custody.”
The hearing — which also touched on FBI firings and the handling of the Epstein files — grew heated at times. Democratic Sen. Cory Booker predicted Patel wouldn’t last in his job and accused him of serving Trump over the Constitution, sparking a shouting match that ended only when Chairman Chuck Grassley banged the gavel. Republicans brushed off the clash, with Sen. Ted Cruz joking, “It used to be that to see theater you had to go to the Kennedy Center.” Cruz pressed Patel on whether Robinson’s roommate was transgender — which Patel confirmed — and whether investigators had uncovered “chatrooms of transgender activists” with possible foreknowledge of the killing. Patel said that aspect of the probe remains ongoing, though no evidence has linked the roommate’s gender identity or such chatrooms to the case.
The tone shifted when Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar grew visibly emotional, reflecting on recent tragedies in Minnesota, including the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis and the killing of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Klobuchar also offered condolences to Patel over the loss of Kirk, whom Patel described as a close friend.
“Minnesota has suffered untold tragedy in these last few months, and whatever creativity we can use to eliminate even just one shooting, one horrific death, I am in favor of engaging with Congress fully to do,” Patel replied. “I don’t have the answers. I don’t know what will eliminate it in its entirety, but I’m willing to engage and explore new ways with you, Senator.”
Klobuchar then pressed him on whether an assault weapons ban could help prevent future shootings. Patel stopped short of endorsing specific legislation, but acknowledged: “I think there are instances on this legislation that could prevent future attacks, but I’m not going to weigh into the creation of legislation.”
