Suspect in Kirk killing charged with aggravated murder as prosecutor says DNA found on gun trigger
Source: AP
By JESSE BEDAYN, HANNAH SCHOENBAUM and JOHN SEEWER
Updated 3:25 PM CDT, September 16, 2025
PROVO, Utah (AP) 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 nations leading conservative voices and Im 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.
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.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398

twodogsbarking
(15,741 posts)He came to the fork you in the road and took the right one.
Oeditpus Rex
(42,727 posts)
RazorbackExpat
(593 posts)is that the Maganutz are trying to canonize this hatemonger and blame his death on people who had absolutely nothing to do with it
muriel_volestrangler
(104,693 posts)that might be applied is
"the actor knowingly created a great risk of death to another individual other than the deceased individual and the actor"
https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter5/76-5-S202.html
Anyone else see anything there for this charge?
SickOfTheOnePct
(8,453 posts)Risk to other individuals, targeting based on political beliefs, and presence of children (this was in addition to the separate charge about crime in the presence of children)
muriel_volestrangler
(104,693 posts)The only mention of children is in connection with serious crimes in which a child is a victim. The only mention of politics is when targeting a law enforcement officer "in furtherance of political or social objectives in order to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or to influence or affect the conduct of a government or a unit of government".
It seems they're going to have to say "he was not a well-prepared assassin - he just got lucky to kill his target with his first shot" to keep the claim of risk to others up, and that goes against the "he carefully planned this" narrative.
SickOfTheOnePct
(8,453 posts)
it would be pretty easy to hold that part up
he could have planned it well, but someone could have moved at the last second and been injured
or it could have gone through Charlie Kirk and hit someone else.
LeftInTX
(33,891 posts)Different states have different wording.
AI says (because I don't have time to research)
Aggravated murder is a classification of homicide that includes additional factors that make the crime more severe than a standard murder charge. Specific definitions and penalties for aggravated murder vary significantly among different states and jurisdictions. It is often a capital crime, meaning it can be punishable by the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
I don't think we have that in Texas.
I'm thinking this is probably first degree murder
IbogaProject
(4,966 posts)And often first degree or aggrivated is the charge for premeditated.
muriel_volestrangler
(104,693 posts)Did he fire into a group? I think Kirk was fairly well separated from others - about 8 feet from the nearest person on the stage, and on a stage, so raised from the crowd ( https://www.nbcnews.com/video/shorts/video-shows-the-moment-charlie-kirk-was-shot-247310405708 has video up to the moment before he was shot)
IbogaProject
(4,966 posts)There is likely a standard derived from previous cases which the statute may be missing.
SickOfTheOnePct
(8,453 posts)
and it isnt just about far away they are, its about whether or not someone could step into the path of the bullet.
LudwigPastorius
(13,395 posts)He was aiming at Kirk, but there was no way for Robinson to know that he wouldn't have killed someone else if he missed since he couldn't see who was behind the tent.

Deminpenn
(17,000 posts)see how Robinson can get a fair trial anywhere in Utah.