The man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk confessed to killing the right-wing activist in a message to his roommate, prosecutors have alleged, as they announced seven charges against him.
Tyler Robinson, 22, left a note under a keyboard for his roommate to discover, said Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray. He added that the roommate was Mr. Robinson's romantic partner.
According to Mr. Gray, the note said: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I'm going to take it.”
The prosecutor also shared text messages between the roommates, including one in which the defendant allegedly said he shot Kirk because he had “had enough of his hatred.”
The suspect is being held without bail in a special housing unit at the Utah County Jail. He made his first court appearance on Tuesday, appearing remotely as prosecutors read the seven charges against him.
The charges include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and committing a violent crime when children are present.
They referred to the shooting of Kirk, who was killed by a single gunshot fired from a rooftop while he was speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Prosecutors indicated they would seek the death penalty due to the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Arrested after a 33-hour manhunt, Mr. Robinson has not entered a plea or confessed to police. He has been described as innocent until proven guilty, facing trial by jury.
During a news conference Tuesday, Mr. Gray presented evidence, including the alleged confession note and DNA found on the trigger of the firearm suspected to have been used in the crime.
Mr. Gray detailed that Robinson's parents became suspicious of his involvement in the shooting. An incident involving a video of the suspect led his mother to confront him, which he denied, claiming he was home sick on the day of the incident.
His father's confrontation led to emotional discussions where Robinson hinted at suicidal thoughts rather than facing incarceration. With familial support, he eventually surrendered to authorities, highlighting the critical role of community in addressing such grave matters.
Notably, the legal proceedings and community reactions to the case also re-open debates surrounding political violence and the extreme measures some may take based on differing ideologies, as Kirk's death has prompted widespread condemnation and reflection on polarization in America.
