Charlie Kirk’s Accused Assassin Will Face the Death Penalty

Tyler Robinson was officially charged with the killing of Charlie Kirk and will face the death penalty, authorities announced in a press conference in Provo, Utah Tuesday afternoon.

Kirk, 31, was speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on September 10 when he was fatally shot. The Turning Point USA founder was a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and is survived by his wife, Erika Kirk, and their two young children.

Last Friday, Utah authorities announced that Robinson, 22, had confessed to his father and was convinced to allow himself to be taken into custody. Robinson was held without bail in a Utah jail on initial charges that included aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice. Robinson has no known prior criminal record.

Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray called Kirk’s murder “an American tragedy” that had happened while he was “engaging in one of our most sacred and cherished American rights, the bedrock of our democratic republic: the free exchange of ideas,” and a “senseless and needless taking of [his] life” that “has shattered the lives of those he loved and those who loved him.”

Gray officially announced the charges against Robinson, including multiple felonies and a capital offense:

Today, after reviewing the evidence that law enforcement has collected thus far, I am filing a criminal information charging Tyler James Robinson, age 22, with the following crimes:

Count one, aggravated murder a capital offense for intentionally or knowingly causing the death of Charlie Kirk under circumstances that created a great risk of death to others.

Count two, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, a first degree felony.

The state is further alleging aggravating factors on counts one and two, because the defendant is believed believed to have targeted Charlie Kirk based on Charlie Kirk’s political expression, and did so knowing that children were present and would witness the homicide.

The state is also charging defendant with count three, obstruction of justice, a second degree felony, for moving and concealing the rifle used in the shooting.

Count four, obstruction of justice, a third degree — a second degree felony, for disposing the clothing he wore during the shooting.

Count five, witness tampering, a third degree felony, for directing his roommate to delete his incriminating texts.

Count six witness tampering, a third degree felony, for directing his roommate to stay silent if police questioned him, and count seven, commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child, a class A misdemeanor, for committing homicide knowing that children were present and may have seen or heard the murder, and did so based on Charlie Kirk’s political expression.

The state would be seeking the death penalty, Gray said. “I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently,” he added. Robinson will continue to be held without bail in the Utah County Jail, Gray said.

Robinson is scheduled to make his first appearance at 3 pm MT. He will appear virtually, the court will confirm he has an attorney present to represent him, and then the charges will be read to him.

Watch the clip above via CNN.

This article has been updated with additional information.