More than four months after the fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, prime suspect Tyler James Robinson remains in custody as he prepares for trial. The 22-year-old has been charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice, and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Kirk, 31, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, was killed by a single gunshot fired from a rooftop during an outdoor campus event attended by 3,000 people in Utah on September 10. According to court documents, Robinson left a note under a keyboard stating his intention to kill Kirk, and confessed after the shooting.
Prosecutors allege Robinson's DNA was found on the rifle trigger, and that he discarded the weapon and clothing before asking his roommate to conceal evidence. His romantic partner reportedly received a text from Robinson on the day of the shooting saying, 'Drop what you’re doing. Look under my keyboard,' where the note was discovered.
Robinson, a third-year electrical apprenticeship student at Dixie Technical College, had no prior criminal history. He was a registered voter but unaffiliated with any political party, and did not vote in the 2024 presidential election. Neighbours described him as a 'regular student' from a 'great family,' with his parents registered as Republicans.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox called Kirk's murder a 'watershed in American history,' comparing it to political assassinations of the 1960s. Robinson's next hearing is scheduled for September 29 via WebEx, where his defence will argue for the removal of a prosecutor whose child attended the event.
