Utah County Attorney Jeffrey S. Gray speaks during a press conference about the charges and next steps in the case of Tyler Robinson, who is suspected of fatally shooting U.S. right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, in Provo, Utah, U.S., Sept. 16, 2025.

Jim Urquhart | Reuters

Utah prosecutors charged Tyler Robinson on Tuesday with aggravated murder in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said that he will seek the death penalty in the case against Robinson, who was also charged with felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and several other counts.

"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," Gray said at a press conference.

Robinson, a Washington, Utah, resident, is scheduled to appear virtually for his initial court appearance at 5 p.m. ET. He has been held in jail without bail since his arrest on Friday morning.

Booking photo of Tyler Robinson

Courtesy: Utah Governor's Office

Gray said Robinson, 22, was identified as a suspect in part because his family recognized him in surveillance images released after Kirk, a married father of two, was killed last Wednesday during a crowded speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem.

"Robinson's mother expressed concern to her husband that the suspect shooter looked like Robinson," and Robinson's father agreed, Gray said.

Robinson's mother also told investigators that "over the last year or so, her son had become more political and had started to lean more to the left, becoming more pro gay and trans-rights oriented," Gray said.

She also told police that he "began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders," the prosecutor said.

Gray also described a wide array of evidence that he said tied Robinson to Kirk's shooting, including text messages between the suspect and his roommate and DNA that was allegedly matched to Robinson.

Arizonans mourn Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk outside of the Turning Point USA headquarters on Sept. 12, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Charly Triballeau | AFP | Getty Images

Several of the messages, which were detailed in charging documents shared with CNBC later Tuesday, contained romantic sentiments.

The roommate told police that, on the day of the shooting, Robinson texted, "Drop what you're doing. Look under my keyboard," the documents alleged.

The roommate looked and found a note stating, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it."

After reading the note, the roommate texted Robinson, "What?????????????? You're joking, right????"

Robinson replied that, "To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you."

The roommate asked, "you weren't the one who did it right????"

Robinson wrote back, "I am, I'm sorry."

When the roommate asked why Robinson did it, he replied, "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out."

Robinson also texted that he had been planning the shooting for "a bit over a week," according to the charging documents.

And he discussed dropping a firearm at the university after fleeing, texting the roommate, "If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence."

He added: "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 grandpa's rifle."

Police found the suspected murder weapon, a bolt-action .30-06 rifle with a mounted scope, nearby the shooting location. In it were multiple shell casings with etched inscriptions that appeared to reference internet memes.

Robinson said in the texts with his roommate, "remember how I was engraving bullets? The f----- messages are mostly a big meme," the charging documents show.

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CNBC has not independently verified the content of messages.

Gray was uncertain whether Robinson had retained a defense lawyer.

Kirk's death has gripped the nation and generated highly charged reactions.

Many of Kirk's friends and political allies have felt intense grief, and politicians across the aisle have issued forceful condemnations of political violence.

But some, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, have blamed the "radical left" for the killing and signaled plans to crack down on groups aligned with that ideology.

Others on the left who criticized Kirk's right-wing politics while he was alive have continued to do so following his murder, drawing outrage from the activist's supporters.

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