Utah recordsdata homicide prices in opposition to Tyler Robinson : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1130x839+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F85%2F43%2F72a164704ade8ecac8cc295e3f75%2Fap25255528607386.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1130x839+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F85%2F43%2F72a164704ade8ecac8cc295e3f75%2Fap25255528607386.jpg" class="img" alt="This photo shows Tyler Robinson photographed from about the shoulders up. He has brown hair and is photographed against a light background." fetchpriority="high"/> This picture launched by the Utah Governor's Workplace on Sept. 12 reveals Tyler Robinson. Utah Governor's Workplace/through AP disguise caption

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Utah Governor's Workplace/through AP Tyler Robinson, the person accused of fatally taking pictures conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, was charged with aggravated homicide and different counts, in a case wherein prosecutors are looking for the dying penalty.

"The homicide of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy," mentioned Utah County Legal professional Jeff Grey at a information convention on Tuesday. "Charlie Kirk was murdered whereas partaking in considered one of our most sacred and cherished American rights."

Authorities have additionally charged Robinson with firearm counts and a number of obstruction-of-justice prices for allegedly disposing of garments he wore throughout the taking pictures. He's accused of directing his roommate to delete incriminating messages and never converse with investigators after Kirk was killed.

Investigators say surveillance footage confirmed Robinson strolling with a peculiar gait they imagine signifies Robinson had a rifle hidden in his pants. The weapon, a bolt-action rifle, is assumed to have been a present from his grandfather. Prosecutors say Robinson wrapped the gun in a towel and positioned it in a wooded space after the taking pictures.

Robinson's mom advised investigators that Robinson had in current months turn out to be "extra political and had began to lean extra to the left – changing into extra pro-gay and trans-rights oriented," based on the courtroom papers.

Investigators interviewed Robinson's roommate, who was not recognized by title. Authorities say the roommate was a male transitioning to feminine with whom Robinson had been romantically concerned.

The roommate obtained a textual content message from Robinson the day of the taking pictures, based on authorities, that learn: "drop what you're doing, look below my keyboard."

When the roommate did so, a notice was discovered that acknowledged: "I had the chance to take out Charlie Kirk and I will take it."

Robinson allegedly advised his roommate: "I had sufficient of his hatred," referring to Kirk. "Some hate cannot be negotiated out."

Robinson, 22, made an preliminary courtroom look Tuesday afternoon by video stream from a Utah county jail.

He didn't enter a plea, and doesn't but have a protection lawyer, however a public defender is anticipated to characterize him.

Choose Tony Graf learn the fees in opposition to him. Robinson appeared stoic, and didn't converse, past stating his title to the decide.

Robinson's subsequent courtroom date is slated for Sept. 29.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5472x3648+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd5%2Fd0%2F9ac297c54249847037bb6ba538c6%2Fgettyimages-2234324191.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5472x3648+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd5%2Fd0%2F9ac297c54249847037bb6ba538c6%2Fgettyimages-2234324191.jpg" class="img" alt="A memorial sits in front of Utah Valley University following the fatal shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk during an event at the campus on September 12, 2025 in Orem, Utah." loading="lazy"/> A memorial sits in entrance of Utah Valley College following the deadly taking pictures of political activist Charlie Kirk throughout an occasion on the campus on September 12, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Photographs disguise caption

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Michael Ciaglo/Getty Photographs After a 33-hour manhunt, authorities arrested Robinson, who's being held with out bail on the Utah County Jail.

Since Robinson was apprehended, hypothesis has stuffed the void of arduous details about his precise motive, however officers have steered he was politically motivated.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox mentioned on Sunday that Robinson held beliefs in line with a "leftist ideology." Based on Cox, Robinson was radicalized "in a reasonably quick period of time" following dropping out of faculty after one semester and shifting again to his hometown of Washington, Utah, a southwestern pocket of the state recognized for its red-rock panorama and proximity to Zion Nationwide Park.

Robinson, based on Cox, had been dwelling with a romantic accomplice who, Cox mentioned, was "shocked" upon discovering out concerning the taking pictures at a campus occasion the place Kirk appeared to debate college students at Utah Valley College, about 4 hours from the place Robinson lived.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8192x5464+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6d%2F25%2F82c90eae45d2ba89851120e455bf%2Fgettyimages-2235257990.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8192x5464+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F6d%2F25%2F82c90eae45d2ba89851120e455bf%2Fgettyimages-2235257990.jpg" class="img" alt="Utah County Attorney General Jeff Gray speaks Tuesday during a press conference regarding Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk. Gray announced Robinson is charged with seven counts including aggravated murder in the killing of Kirk last week on the campus of Utah Valley University." loading="lazy"/> Utah County Legal professional Basic Jeff Grey speaks Tuesday throughout a press convention concerning Tyler Robinson, the suspect within the taking pictures of Charlie Kirk. Grey introduced Robinson is charged with seven counts together with aggravated homicide within the killing of Kirk final week on the campus of Utah Valley College. Chet Unusual/Getty Photographs disguise caption

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Chet Unusual/Getty Photographs Cox mentioned the accomplice has turn out to be the topic of intense focus contemplating Kirk's disdain for transgender rights. However authorities haven't zeroed in on what explicit political positions are believed to have motivated Robinson to kill.

Investigators say Robinson is what some would name chronically on-line — an individual who spends an inordinate period of time on messaging platforms, on social media and taking part in video video games.

Talking on NBC's Meet the Press, Cox mentioned Robinson navigated "that deep darkish web, the Reddit tradition and these different darkish locations of the web the place this individual was going deep."

Within the rifle believed to be Robinson's, investigators recovered bullet casings that embody inscriptions referencing edgy web memes and jokes within the gaming neighborhood that will be indecipherable to anybody not steeped in these subcultures.

Different inscriptions embody "hey fascist! CATCH!" and "O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao!" — a well-known previous Italian anti-fascist anthem.

In textual content messages in Tuesday's courtroom papers, Robinson allegedly advised his roommate the bullet engravings had been impressed by memes, writing sarcastically to the roommate that he would "have a stroke" if information organizations, particularly Fox Information, needed to point out the memes on air.

President Trump is ready to attend Kirk's funeral in Arizona on Sunday. Kirk is survived by his spouse, Erika Kirk, and their two kids, ages 1 and three.

Turning Level USA, a conservative youth political group Kirk co-founded that's energetic on greater than 3,000 school campuses, says Kirk's American Comeback Tour will proceed, with the following occasion slated for Colorado State College in Fort Collins on Thursday.

Since Kirk's dying, a debate has raged about how finest to recollect a divisive determine who usually pushed excessive views however who was an organizing powerhouse and helped mobilize younger voters to the polls for Trump.

Kirk leaned into provocative conservative positions on points like abortion, the dying penalty, race, and homosexual and transgender rights. Simply earlier than a single shot from 140 yards away struck him within the neck, 31-year-old Kirk was answering a query concerning the prevalence of transgender perpetrators in mass shootings.