Utah prosecutors outline suspected motive in Charlie Kirk killing; Tyler Robinson, 22, charged with aggravated murder

Utah prosecutors on Tuesday presented evidence indicating a suspected political motive in the killing of Charlie Kirk and charged Tyler Robinson, 22, with aggravated (capital) murder and other offenses.

Charging documents state that text messages recovered by investigators show Robinson telling his partner—whom prosecutors described as “transitioning genders”—that he had “had enough” of Kirk’s “hatred.” In one exchange cited by prosecutors, Robinson wrote, “Some hate can’t be negotiated out.” The filings say the messages were sent around the time Kirk was killed during an event at Utah Valley University, shortly after he asserted that “too many” transgender people had carried out mass shootings in the United States. The nonpartisan Gun Violence Archive reports that about 0.1% of such shootings over the past decade were allegedly committed by transgender individuals.

Prosecutors said Robinson’s mother told investigators her son had become “more political” over the past year, leaning left and becoming “more pro-gay and trans rights oriented,” which led to family disagreements, especially with his father. Prior reporting noted Robinson’s parents were registered Republicans who voted in the 2024 election that returned Donald Trump to the presidency, to whom Kirk was closely aligned. In a text to his roommate, Robinson allegedly described his father as “pretty diehard maga” after Trump retook the Oval Office in January.

Robinson’s mother told investigators that, prior to the shooting, her son referenced Charlie Kirk’s appearance at Utah Valley University, dismissed the venue as “stupid,” and accused Kirk of spreading hate. After authorities released a surveillance image of the suspect, Robinson’s parents thought the person resembled their son; his father—who is a licensed hunter—said the rifle believed to have been used matched one he had previously given Robinson. The father later spoke with Robinson, who indicated he had killed Kirk and justified it by saying there was “too much evil” and that Kirk “spreads too much hate,” according to prosecutors.

Robinson surrendered to authorities the day after the killing, aided by a family friend who works in local law enforcement. Prosecutors said DNA recovered from a rifle discarded near Utah Valley University, coupled with Robinson’s texts to his roommate before his arrest, further linked him to the shooting.

Investigators also recovered bullet casings bearing engravings, including “hey fascist” and “O bella ciao,” a lyric from an Italian anti-fascist song popularized in the series Money Heist. In a text cited by prosecutors, Robinson reportedly dismissed the inscriptions as “mostly a big meme.”

Among the messages disclosed by prosecutors was a conversation in which the roommate asked Robinson, “You weren’t the one who did it right?” Robinson allegedly replied, “I am, I’m sorry,” later apologizing for having to “involve” the roommate and writing that he had hoped to keep the act secret “till I died of old age.”

Prosecutors said the most serious count is aggravated murder and that they intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted. He is being held without bond. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said one aggravating factor is the allegation that Robinson targeted “Charlie Kirk based on Charlie Kirk’s political expression.” Gray added, “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.”