A manhunt ensued after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at a Turning Point USA rally, with the suspect’s mother being the first to raise concerns about her son’s potential involvement upon seeing investigators’ released images.
Kirk, aged 31, was shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10 and succumbed to his injuries later.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was apprehended on September 11 following a report from his family to law enforcement, indicating that he had made remarks hinting at being the shooter.
At a press briefing by Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray, it was disclosed that Robinson faces seven charges, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and committing violence in the presence of children, with the prosecution seeking the death penalty.
Robinson’s mother was the one to initially suspect his involvement, having identified similarities between the suspect images and her son. She revealed that Robinson had become increasingly politically active over the past year, leading to conflicts within the family.
Text messages between Robinson and his roommate, who is not implicated in the shooting, were discovered during the investigation. Robinson allegedly mentioned that he carried out the attack due to intolerance towards Kirk’s beliefs and had planned it for over a week.
Robinson’s father informed authorities that the weapon used in the shooting matched a rifle previously given to his son, which had belonged to his grandfather.
The accused appeared in court, remaining silent and wearing a suicide prevention vest as the charges were read. He is currently detained without bail and will be provided with legal representation as he has been deemed “indigent.” The prosecution has formally declared its intention to seek the death penalty in Robinson’s case.
