UTAH – The suspect in one of the most heinous murders of the 21st Century now knows what awaits him from the state of Utah.
On Sept. 16, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson was hit with no less than seven counts in the state of Utah pertaining to the death of conservative megastar Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead on Sept. 10 while holding an outdoor event at Utah Valley University.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced the charges at a news conference. Here is a list of what Robinson will face:
COUNT 1: AGGRAVATED MURDER, a Capital Felony, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-202, in that on September 10, 2025, in Utah County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, intentionally or knowingly caused the death of Charlie Kirk under the following circumstance: (iii) the defendant knowingly created a great risk of death to another individual other than Charlie Kirk and the defendant.
NOTICE: Conviction of this offense may carry the death penalty, or, pursuant to Utah Code 76-3-207.7, a mandatory term of imprisonment: (i) for life without parole; or (ii) an indeterminate term of not less than 25 years and that may be for life.
VICTIM TARGETING ENHANCEMENT: In violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203.14(2), Tyler James Robinson intentionally selected Charlie Kirk because of Tyler James Robinson’s belief or perception regarding Charlie Kirk’s political expression.
NOTICE: If the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim targeting enhancement applies, the sentencing judge or the Board of Pardons and Parole shall consider the defendant’s selection of the victim as an aggravating factor.
VIOLENT OFFENSE COMMITTED IN THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD – AGGRAVATING FACTOR: The sentencing judge or the Board of Pardons and Parole shall consider as an aggravating factor in their deliberations that the defendant committed a violent criminal offense in the presence of a child.
COUNT 2: FELONY DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, a First Degree Felony, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-11-210(2) and (3)(c), in that on September 10, 2025, in Utah County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, discharged a firearm in the direction of Charlie Kirk, knowing or having reason to believe that Charlie Kirk may be endangered by the discharge of the firearm, and the act caused serious bodily injury to Charlie Kirk.
VICTIM TARGETING ENHANCEMENT: In violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203.14(2), Tyler James Robinson intentionally selected Charlie Kirk because of Tyler James Robinson’s belief or perception regarding Charlie Kirk’s political expression.
NOTICE: If the trier of fact finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim targeting enhancement applies, the sentencing judge or the Board of Pardons and Parole shall consider the defendant’s selection of the victim as an aggravating factor.
VIOLENT OFFENSE COMMITTED IN THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD – AGGRAVATING FACTOR: The sentencing judge or the Board of Pardons and Parole shall consider as an aggravating factor in their deliberations that the defendant committed a violent criminal offense in the presence of a child.
COUNT 3: OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, a Second Degree Felony, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-306(2), in that on September 10, 2025, in Utah County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, with intent to hinder, delay, or prevent the investigation, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of any person regarding conduct that constitutes a criminal offense: (c) concealed or removed the firearm used to shoot Charlie Kirk; and the conduct that constitutes an offense would be a capital felony or first degree felony.
COUNT 4: OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, a Second Degree Felony, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-306(2), in that on or about September 11, 2025, in Utah County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, with intent to hinder, delay, or prevent the investigation, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of any person regarding conduct that constitutes a criminal offense: (c) destroyed, concealed, or removed the clothing he wore during the shooting; and the conduct that constitutes an offense would be a capital felony or first degree felony.
COUNT 5: TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS, a Third Degree Felony, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-508, in that on or about September 10, 2025, in Utah County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, (a)(i) believed that an official proceeding or investigation was pending or about to be instituted; or (ii) intended to prevent an official proceeding or investigation; and (b) attempted to induce or otherwise cause his roommate to (ii) withhold testimony, information, a document, or an item, to wit: directing his roommate to delete incriminating text messages.
COUNT 6: TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS, a Third Degree Felony, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-508, in that on or about September 11, 2025, in Utah County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, (a)(i) believed that an official proceeding or investigation was pending or about to be instituted; or (ii) intended to prevent an official proceeding or investigation; and (b) attempted to induce or otherwise cause his roommate to (ii) withhold testimony or information, to wit: directing his roommate to stay silent if police questioned the roommate.
COUNT 7: VIOLENT OFFENSE COMMITTED IN THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD, a Class A Misdemeanor, in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203.10(2) and § 76-3- 203.14(3)(a)(ii) in that on or about September 10, 2025, in Utah County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, committed criminal homicide in the physical presence of a child younger than 14 years old, with knowledge that a child was present and may have seen or heard the commission of the criminal homicide.
VICTIM TARGETING ENHANCEMENT: In violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203.14(2), Tyler James Robinson intentionally selected Charlie Kirk because of Tyler James Robinson’s belief or perception regarding Charlie Kirk’s political expression.
PROBABLE CAUSE STATEMENT: Brian Davis of the Utah State Bureau of Investigations, having probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the above-listed offense(s), submitted the following evidence in support of the filing of this Information:
On September 10, 2025, at approximately 12:23 p.m., Charlie Kirk was shot and killed
while speaking to a large crowd on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah.
(Counts 1 and 2). Police found the suspected murder weapon, a bolt-action .30-06 rifle nearby. Over the next approximately 33 hours, police conducted a manhunt for the shooter until the evening of September 11, 2025, when Tyler James Robinson surrendered to police at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. DNA consistent with Robinson was found on the rifle’s trigger. After shooting Mr. Kirk, Robinson hid the gun (Count 3), discarded the clothing he wore when he fired the rifle (Count 4), and told his lover/roommate to delete incriminating text messages (Count 5) and not to talk to police. (Count 6) Children were present at the time of the shooting
(Count 7)
The Shooting.
Turning Point USA, a non-profit organization founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk, organized a public, outdoor event to be held at noon on September 10, 2025, at UVU. The event was the first in a series of similar events to be held at college campuses nationwide. Mr. Kirk is a well-known conservative activist, famous for these types of events where he discusses various political issues and debates with audience members. His events and comments have garnered a significant number of supporters and drawn the ire of many who disagree with his political views.
The event at UVU was announced far in advance and garnered significant publicity and interest. Consequently, several hundred people attended. Mr. Kirk was interacting with the crowd before the event officially got underway. Then, approximately at noon, Mr. Kirk seated himself under a portable canopy behind a table and microphone. He began speaking to the crowd and fielding questions from attendees, a format Mr. Kirk commonly used at his events. Mr. Kirk allowed his questioners to approach a microphone positioned directly in front of him.
Mr. Kirk’s team members were very close to him on his right and left, as well as some behind his canopy and others at various close locations near him. The large crowd surrounded Mr. Kirk on three sides. Temporary metal fencing separated attendees from Mr. Kirk by only a matter of feet. Directly above and behind Mr. Kirk was the UVU Hall of Flags, an indoor walkway spanning several hundred feet with floor-to-ceiling glass windows which overlook the plaza where Mr. Kirk was seated. People were in the walkway at the time of the shooting.
Approximately fifteen minutes into the event, Mr. Kirk was answering a question about mass shootings by transgender individuals when a gunshot rang out. The bullet struck Mr. Kirk in the neck. He slumped to the ground almost immediately. The bullet’s trajectory passed closely to several other individuals beside Mr. Kirk, including the questioner who was standing directly in front of Mr. Kirk. Children were visible near Mr. Kirk’s stage when he was shot.
Mr. Kirk was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared deceased. The Medical Examiner’s report is pending.
The UVU Surveillance Investigation.
At the moment of the shot, a UVU police officer (the UVU Officer) was watching the crowd from an elevated vantage point. As soon as he heard the shot, he began to scan the area for threats. Believing the shot came from a rifle because of its sound, he looked for potential sniper
positions. He noted a roof area approximately 160 yards away from Mr. Kirk as a potential shooting position and rushed there to look for evidence.
If Robinson somehow gets around the Utah justice system, he would then face the Federal version under U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Trump Administration, who have also said they would pursue capital punishment.
Kirk leaves behind a wife and two children.
