Tyler Robinson: Charlie Kirk suspect formally charged with aggravated murder, prosecutors seek death penalty

Accused killer Tyler Robinson texted his roommate-lover instructions to look under his keyboard, where he had left a confessional note saying he had the chance to assassinate Charlie Kirk, and that he had to take it, authorities have alleged.

Mr Robinson appeared in court via video link on Tuesday (local time) after being arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting conservative activist Kirk.

He sat emotionless with a self-harm prevention vest on as Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf Jr read the charges against him and told him the state of Utah will be seeking the death penalty.

Mr Robinson only spoke when asked to state his name.

Earlier on Tuesday, prosecutors in Utah formally charged the 22-year-old with aggravated murder.

He is accused of firing the single rifle shot from a rooftop sniper’s position that struck Kirk in the neck last Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 65km south of Salt Lake City.

After the shooting, Mr Robinson allegedly confessed to his roommate, a person who is transitioning from male to female, with whom he was also in a romantic relationship.

Tyler Robinson’s alleged Charlie Kirk confession

One message he sent to his roommate and romantic partner allegedly said: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

Mr Robinson asked his roommate to “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard”.

The note under his keyboard said: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”

In the exchange that followed, according to court documents, Mr Robinson confessed to murdering Kirk, explained he had hidden the murder weapon and needed to retrieve it, before eventually saying he was going to hand himself in, pleading for his roommate-lover to stay silent and not speak to police or media.

Roommate: “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????

Mr Robinson: “I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.”

Roommate: “You weren’t the one who did it right????,” the roommate said.

Mr Robinson: “I am, I’m sorry.”

Roommate: “I thought they caught the person?, Mr Robinson’s partner asked.

Mr Robinson: “No, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres one vehicle lingering,” Mr Robinson replied.

Roommate: “Why?”

Mr Robinson: “Why did I do it?...I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

“If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.”

Roommate: “How long have you been planning this?”

Mr Robinson: “A bit over a week I believe. I can get close to it but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t wanna chance it.”

Mr Robinson: “I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle.... I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle ... idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits. didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with.... I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the [expletive] will I explain losing it to my old man....

“Only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel....

“Remember how I was engraving bullets? The [expletive] messages are mostly a big meme, if I see “notices bulge uwu” on fox new I might have a stroke alright im gonna have to leave it, that really [expletive] sucks.... judging from today I’d say grandpas gun does just fine idk. I think that was a $2k scope;-;”

Mr Robinson: “Delete this exchange.”

Mr Robinson: “Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff.”

Mr Robinson: “You are all I worry about love.”

Roommate: “I’m much more worried about you.”

Mr Robinson: “Don’t talk to the media please. don’t take any interviews or make any comments. ... if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent.”

Tyler Robinson’s charges

Utah County District Attorney Jeffrey Gray said that seven counts have been filed against Mr Robinson, including obstruction of justice for disposing of evidence and witness tampering for directing his roommate to delete text messages.

Mr Gray said he had decided to seek the death penalty “independently, based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime”.

“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Mr Gray added.

Court documents revealed that Mr Robinson’s mother allegedly recognised her son when she saw the images of the main suspect that the FBI released during the manhunt.

The killing, captured in graphic video clips, sparked denunciations of political violence across the ideological spectrum but also unleashed a wave of partisan blame-casting and concerns that Kirk’s murder might beget more bloodshed.

The killing of Charlie Kirk

Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder and head of the conservative student movement Turning Point USA, who was a key ally of US President Donald Trump, was speaking at an event attended by 3000 people when he was gunned down.

The suspect initially escaped in the pandemonium following the shooting, before authorities eventually arrested Mr Robinson.

He was arrested two days after the shooting at his parents’ house, about 420km southwest of the crime scene, after relatives and a family friend alerted authorities that Mr Robinson had implicated himself in the shooting, according to Utah Governor Spencer Cox.

Kirk brought young conservatives into politics with Turning Point USA, one of the country’s largest political organisations.

He frequently engaged with his critics from the far left to the far right, often inviting members of his audiences to debate him live.

Mr Robinson has not yet been appointed an attorney. His next hearing is scheduled for 10am September 29.

- with AP and Reuters