Utah officials announced on Tuesday that they are seeking the death penalty against Charlie Kirk’s accused killer.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray revealed that it was Tyler Robinson’s mother who first identified him as the shooter who killed Kirk, 31, at Utah Valley University last Wednesday. Robinson’s mother saw photos of the suspect on the news and called Robinson — who claimed he was at home sick — before expressing to her husband that she feared
Gray also read alleged Discord messages in which Robinson told his roommate that he was the gunman, and he is in the process of trying to retrieve his rifle from the crime scene. Authorities recovered the rifle, wrapped in a towel, from a wooded area not far from the college.
“They grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down,” Robinson allegedly wrote.
According to Gray, Robinson also wrote that he spent about a week planning Kirk’s slaying. He reportedly carried out the shooting with his grandfather’s rifle.
“I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out,” Robinson allegedly wrote, referring to Kirk.
The FBI said Robinson’s DNA was recovered from a towel concealing the Mauser .30 caliber bolt-action rifle he allegedly used to shoot Kirk, along with a screwdriver found on the roof of the Losee Center — where authorities think Robinson shot Kirk from.
At the time of Wednesday’s shooting, Kirk was at the university for the first stop of his “The American Comeback” tour, which entails him engaging in political debates with members of the audience. Authorities believe Robinson is believed to have jumped off the roof and fled to a nearby neighborhood.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox claimed the cartridges from the rifle had various messages, including, “hey fascist! catch!” with several arrows, “oh bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao,” and “if you read this you are gay lmao.”
The spent casing reportedly had the message, “notices bulges oWo what’s this.”
Jailed without bail, Robinson is charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. He is due in court on Tuesday.
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[Feature Photo: Utah Governor’s Office]
