Prosecutors in Utah on Tuesday formally charged 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson with the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, announcing they will seek the death penalty.
Kirk, a close ally of former president Donald Trump and founder of the youth political group Turning Point USA, was fatally shot in the neck last week during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. Authorities said Robinson fired from a rooftop with a rifle before being captured after a 33-hour manhunt.
“After reviewing the evidence that law enforcement has collected thus far, I am charging Tyler James Robinson with aggravated murder, a capital offence, for intentionally or knowingly causing the death of Charlie Kirk under circumstances that created a great risk of death to others,” Utah County attorney Jeff Gray told reporters.
Robinson also faces six other charges, including obstruction of justice and witness tampering, allegedly for ordering his roommate to stay silent.
“I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty,” Gray said. “I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently as county attorney based solely on the available evidence and the nature of the crime.”
The father of two, Kirk built a national profile through social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, where he promoted conservative views and frequently criticised transgender rights.
His killing has sparked political fallout in Washington. On Monday, the White House said it would target what it described as a left-wing “domestic terror movement,” prompting concern among critics who warned of potential overreach.
Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel was grilled Tuesday by a Senate panel over his handling of the case, including his premature announcement of a suspect’s arrest that was later retracted. Patel, a Trump appointee, has come under bipartisan criticism since taking charge of the bureau.