Prosecutors have filed a notice to seek the death penalty for Robinson.

PROVO, Utah — Prosecutors brought a murder charge Tuesday against the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk and outlined evidence, including a text message confession to his partner and a note left beforehand saying he had the opportunity to kill one of the nation’s leading conservative voices “and I’m going to take it.”

DNA on the trigger of the rifle that killed Kirk also matched that of Tyler Robinson, said Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said in announcing the charges that could result in the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.

This photo released by the Utah Governor’s Office on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025 shows Tyler Robinson.
Utah Governor’s Office via AP

The prosecutor said Robinson wrote in one text that he spent more than a week planning the attack on Kirk, a prominent force in politics credited with energizing the Republican youth movement and helping Donald Trump win back the White House in 2024.

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

Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 10 while speaking with students at Utah Valley University.

Prosecutors allege Robinson shot Kirk in the neck with a bolt-action rifle from the roof of a nearby building on the campus in Orem, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.

Robinson made his first appearance in court virtually on Tuesday, where a judge read off the suspect’s charges. He will remain in custody.

In this image from video provided by Utah State Courts, Tyler James Robinson attends a virtual court hearing from prison in Utah, on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025.
Utah State Courts via AP

He only said his name during the hearing and showed no emotion as the charges were read.

His next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 29. Robinson was expected to have an attorney by that time.

Suspect confessed to k:i;l;l:i:n:g Kirk, said there is ‘too much evil’

Robinson was apprehended after his father recognized him in photographs released by authorities, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said last week.

“Robinson’s father reported that when his wife showed him the surveillance image of the suspected shooter in the news, he agreed it looked like their son,” according to the charging documents.

The suspect’s father also believed the rifle police “suspected the shooter used matched a rifle that was given to his son as a gift,” the charging documents said.

Thus, his father reached out to the 22-year-old, asking him to “send a photo of the rifle,” to which Robinson did not respond, the charging documents said.

When his father called Robinson, he implied he planned to “take his own life,” with his parents convincing him to meet them at their home, the charging documents said.

“As they discussed the situation, Robinson implied that he was the shooter and stated that he couldn’t go to jail and just wanted to end it,” the charging documents said.

His parents then asked their son why he committed this crime, to which he said “there is too much evil and the guy [Charlie Kirk]] spreads too much hate,” according to the charging documents.

The suspect’s parents urged Robinson to speak with a family friend who is a deputy sheriff, who convinced him to turn himself in, charging documents said.

Was Charlie Kirk targeted over anti-transgender views?

Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but Gray said that Robinson wrote in a text about Kirk to his partner: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

Robinson also left a note for his partner that said, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” according to Gray.

The prosecutor declined to answer whether Robinson targeted Kirk for his anti-transgender views. Kirk was shot while taking a question that touched on mass shootings, gun violence and transgender people.

“That is for a jury to decide,” Gray said.

Robinson was allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with his roommate, a man who investigators say was transgender, which hasn’t been confirmed. Gray said the partner has been cooperating with investigators.

Prosecutor says Robinson told partner to delete texts

A Utah Valley University police officer was watching the university campus crowd from an “elevated position” and identified the roof of the Losee Center as a potential position for a shooter, Gray said.

The officer found evidence on the roof immediately, he said, and spurred officers to direct their attention to surveillance video leading to the roof.

Gray said Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the rifle. He said Robinson discarded the rifle and clothing and asked his roommate to conceal evidence.

Robinson also was charged with felony discharge of a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

VIDEO: Officials announce charges against suspect in Charlie Kirk k:i;l;l:i:n:g

Tyler Robinson, the suspect accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, has been formally charged with a slew of offenses, including aggravated murder, with prosecutors announcing the intent to seek the death penalty.

He also was charged with witness tampering because he had directed his partner to delete their text messages and told him to stay silent if questioned by police, Gray said.

Robinson appears to have stayed in the area after shooting Kirk and ditching his rifle, authorities said.

Robinson detailed movements after the shooting

In a text exchange with his partner released by authorities, Robinson wrote: “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.”

Then he wrote: “Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.”

After that, he sent: “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.”

The texts shared in court documents do not have timestamps, and it’s unclear how long after the shooting Robinson was texting.

Robinson was arrested late Thursday near St. George, the southern Utah community where he grew up.

Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s relatives and carried out a search warrant at his family’s home in Washington, Utah, about 240 miles southwest of where the shooting happened.

Kirk, a dominant figure in conservative politics, became a confidant of President Donald Trump after founding Arizona-based Turning Point USA, one of the nation’s largest political organizations.

He brought young, conservative evangelical Christians into politics. His shooting raised fears about increasing political violence in a deeply polarized United States.

Charlie Kirk throws hats to the crowd after arriving at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah.

Photo by Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images

While authorities say Robinson hasn’t been cooperating with investigators, they say his family and friends have been talking.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said over the weekend that those who know Robinson say his politics shifted left in recent years and he spent a lot of time in the “dark corners of the internet.”

Kash Patel says investigators will look at everyone

FBI Director Kash Patel said Tuesday that agents are looking at “anyone and everyone” who was involved in a gaming chatroom on the social media platform Discord with Robinson.

The chatroom involved “a lot more” than 20 people, he said during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington.

“We are investigating Charlie’s assassination fully and completely and running out every lead related to any allegation of broader violence,” Patel said in response to a question about whether the Kirk shooting was being treated as part of a broader trend of violence against religious groups.

The charges filed Tuesday carry two enhancements, including committing several of the crimes in front of or close to children and carrying out violence based on the subject’s political beliefs.

Gray declined to say whether Robinson’s partner could face charges or whether anyone else might face charges.

In the days since Kirk’s assassination, Americans have found themselves facing questions about rising political violence, the deep divisions that brought the nation here and whether anything can change.

Despite calls for greater civility, some who opposed Kirk’s provocative statements about gender, race and politics criticized him after his death.

Many Republicans have led the push to punish anyone they believe dishonored him, causing both public and private workers to lose their jobs or face other consequences at work.