Now Reading: New revelations in Charlie Kirk murder
-
01
New revelations in Charlie Kirk murder
New revelations in Charlie Kirk murder
Kirk shooting suspect appears virtually in court, held without bail
Tyler James Robinson, accused in Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting, made his first court appearance virtually. The judge ordered he be held without bail.
The 22-year-old had been planning an attack for a week. He used a weapon he described as “grandpa’s rifle.” And after shooting and killing conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, he messaged his roommate, with whom he was in a romantic relationship, according to court documents.
Told to look under a keyboard, Robinson’s roommate discovered a note reading, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
“You weren’t the one who did it right????” asked the roommate.
“I am, I’m sorry,” Robinson replied.
Those were among the details contained in a 10-page criminal information released by Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray, who held a news conference after he charged Robinson, a former straight-A student from Utah, with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering for instructing his roommate not to cooperate in Kirk’s death.
Robinson is accused of shooting Kirk in the neck during a public appearance at Utah Valley University, located in the city of Orem, on Sept. 10. The killing of an influential ally of President Donald Trump and co-founder of Turning Point USA shocked the nation amid an increase in political violence.
Robinson was arraigned Sept. 16 on charges that came with new details about the suspect.
What led the suspect to Kirk’s event?
The charges include the allegation that Robinson targeted Kirk because of “Robinson’s belief or perception regarding Charlie Kirk’s political expression.”
Robinson’s mother told police that her son had “began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders,” the court document said.
And she said that over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political and had “started to lean more to the left – becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented,” according to the documents.
That resulted in discussions with family members, especially between Robinson and his father, who had differing political views. Robinson had accused Kirk of spreading hate, Gray said. The messages obtained by investigators between Robinson and his roomate include Robinson noting that “since trump got into office [my dad] has been pretty diehard maga.”
After the shooting, Gray said the roommate, who is cooperating and hasn’t been charged in the incident, shared text messages between the two. Robinson’s roommate described the exchange to police and willingly showed them the messages, officials said. Law enforcement also obtained a photo of the note.
When his roommate asked why he did it, Robinson replied via message, “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.” He added he’d been planning it for “a bit over a week.”
Gray said Robinson directed his roommate to “delete his incriminating texts” and “stay silent.”
“You are all I worry about love,” Robinson messaged his roommate, according to a criminal information document filed in court.
What evidence have police collected
DNA consistent with suspect Tyler Robinson was found on the trigger of the rifle believed to have been used to kill Kirk, Gray said.
Robinson’s DNA was also found on a towel wrapped around the rifle and a screwdriver found on the roof where police say the fatal shot was fired, federal officials said previously.
The charging documents say that engravings on the bullets recovered in connection with Kirk’s assassination included unfired casings say, “Hey Fascist! Catch!” “If you Read This, You Are GAY Lmao,” and “O Bella ciao…,” a possible reference to an Italian anti-fascist song.
The fired cartridge says, “NoTices Bulge OWO What’s This?” a reference to an internet meme tied to animated videos and furry culture.
In a search of Robinson’s home, investigators found another shell casing with “etchings” similar to those found in the rifle discovered near the attack, according to the documents.
In a text exchange with his roommate, Robinson described the engravings on the bullets as “mostly a big meme.”
Gray said the investigation was ongoing.
“We don’t have any information at this point of additional suspects, but I know that our law enforcement agencies are continuing to follow leads,” he said.
Gray also announced he would seek the death penalty, something President Trump has called for publicly.
“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,” he said.
Robinson hoped to cover his tracks before surrendering
Video footage suggested the suspect was seen on campus before the attack “ walking with an unusual gait … consistent with a rifle being hidden in his pants,” according to the court document. Police later found “markings in the gravel rooftop consistent with a sniper having lain on the roof.”
The shooting took place at roughly 12:23 p.m., officials have said previously, when the shooter exited the campus area.
After the attack, Robinson in his text exchange contained in court documents said at one point he was OK but was stuck near the scene until he could retrieve his rifle, which he described as his grandfather’s.
“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,” he texted, adding in another message a police car was nearby.
“I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle,” he texted.
As the 33-hour manhunt unfolded following the chaotic scene at Utah Valley University, Robinson’s mother saw a photo that authorities had released of the gunman and thought it could be her son, Gray said.
She remarked to Robinson’s father that the man in the surveillance photo looked like their son, and he agreed. She called her son, but he said he had been home sick on Sept. 10.
Robinson’s father also thought he recognized released photos of the rifle he had given him as a gift, the court documents allege. He asked his son to send him a photo. When they talked, his son told him was intending to take his own life, according to prosecutors.
“Robinson’s parents were able to convince him to meet at their home,” the court document says. Robinson agreed to speak with a family friend who had previously worked as a deputy sheriff. The family friend, along with Robinson’s parents, brought the 22-year-old to local law enforcement on Sept. 11
Robinson was arraigned on Sept. 16, wearing a ballistic vest from jail and sitting with little expression on his face. A judge said he would appoint a lawyer to represent him.
National fears of political violence, job firings
The shooting death of Kirk, who brought the conservative movement to younger generations, has inflamed fears over the rising risk of political violence to both Republicans and Democrats.
Despite some calls to tone down political divisions or rhetoric, the Trump administration has vowed to target left-leaning organizations it contends are promoting political violence. The fallout has also led to job terminations over social media posts deemed offensive by some.
Democrats have accused Trump and his allies of ignoring violence on the political right by condemning only violence on the left. In fact, a recent study by the libertarian Cato Institute found significantly more politically motivated killings in the United States come from right-leaning extremists.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said recently that Kirk’s killing was a chance for the country to reassess the dangers of deepening political polarization, saying, “At some point, we have to find an off-ramp, or it’s going to get much, much worse.”
Related Posts
Stay Informed With the Latest & Most Important News
Previous Post
Next Post
Advertisement
