THIS REPORT HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH DETAILS FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
Utah County District Attorney Jeffrey Gray is holding a press conference ahead of Tyler Robinson’s first court appearance for the murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested for shooting Kirk on Wednesday, while he was speaking at a college campus event in Utah. Robinson’s own parents reportedly recognized their son from images released by the FBI, and contacted authorities after he admitted his involvement in the shooting.
However, Robinson reportedly has not confessed to authorities.
Fox News reported:
Though investigators have not confirmed a motive, FBI officials and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said 22-year-old Tyler Robinson had become increasingly radicalized after embracing a “leftist ideology.” Relatives and friends reported that Robinson moved further left politically after dropping out of Utah State University.
Robinson had also reportedly showed disdain for Kirk prior to the shooting. Authorities reported references engraved on the ammunition used to kill Kirk, including one message that read, “Hey, fascist! Catch!”
Senior-level FBI officials also said Robinson was in a “romantic relationship” with a transgender partner who, according to a relative, “hates conservatives and Christians.”
At the press conference, Utah County District Attorney Jeff Gray announced the following charges filed against Robinson:
- Count 1 – Aggravated murder
- Count 2 – Felony discharge of a firearm
- Count 3 – Obstruction of justice – for hiding the weapon
- Count 4 – Obstruction of justice – for disposing of clothing he wore during the shooting
- Count 5 – Witness Tampering – for directing his roommate to delete incriminating texts
- Count 6 – Witness Tampering, for directing roommate to stay silent if police questioned him
- Count 7 – Commission of a Violent Offense in the Presence of a Child – for committing homicide, knowing that children were present and may have seen or heard the murder
Gray said he is filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty, and therefore, Robinson will continue to be held without bail.
Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray announces charges filed against Tyler James Robinson in the death of Charlie Kirk including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice.
He also announces his intent to seek the death penalty. pic.twitter.com/1aOYU2NIMz
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 16, 2025
Gray also discussed the vile messages the shooter had written on the cartridges, and said DNA was found on the rifle, the cartridges, and the towel the gun was was wrapped in after he hid it following the shooting.
Robinson’s mother recognized her son from the images released by the FBI, and discussed it with his father, who agreed. The father called his son and asked where he was. Robinson first claimed he was home sick. The parents convinced their son to meet them at their home, and then convinced him to speak with a family friend, who is a retired sheriff’s deputy. That person then contacted authorities and arranged for Robinson to turn himself in.
Gray read an extensive text exchange between Robinson and his roommate, in which he admitted to the entire killing. During the text exchange, he bizarrely lamented that he had to leave the gun, and said his father will be mad if he doesn’t bring the gun back home.
Robinson is scheduled to make his first appearance before a judge at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
WATCH LIVE COVERAGE of the press conference in one of the videos below.
.@FBIDirectorKash: We are going to be interviewing scores of people — not just from these chats on Discord, but any communications that this individual had. We’ve seized multiple electronic devices from the home of the suspect and his romantic partner. pic.twitter.com/w1Wdn4R7Kr
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 16, 2025
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