Utah County Prosecutors have decided that they’ll seek the death penalty against Tyler Robinson, the suspected shooter of prominent conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.
Last Friday, Tyler Robinson turned himself in to authorities at the advice of his father after a two-day search. Robinson has been charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed during a public debate at Utah Valley University campus last Wednesday.
Robinson is a 22-year-old male who has no prior criminal record. He had a 4.0 GPA in high school and scored a 34 on the ACT, placing him in the 99th percentile. Robinson was living with his roommate and transgender partner, Lance Twiggs, before committing the shocking murder.
Per Jordan Rubin of MSNBC, Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray announced on Tuesday that he’ll seek the death penalty against Robinson. As noted by Rubin, Utah’s primary death penalty method is the lethal injection, though the firing squad is also an option.
You can see the video of Jeffrey Gray announcing the charges against Tyler Robinson below:
Charlie Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika, and two young children.
Tyler Robinson Confessed To Murdering Charlie Kirk In Text Messages To Lance Twiggs
On Tuesday, officials also disclosed text messages Tyler Robinson exchanged with Twiggs after Kirk was assassinated. In the chilling conversation, Robinson apologizes to Twiggs and says he was the one who shot and killed Kirk.
Robinson also asked Twiggs to delete some of their messages, advised him to avoid talking to the media and to get a lawyer if the police try talking to him. One of Robinson’s friends claimed that he was the only “leftist” in a family that was “very hard Republican”.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk is the latest horrific chapter of political violence in the United States. On June 14, Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed by Vance Luther Boelter. The culprit also tried to kill lawmaker John Hoffman and his wife, Yevette, but both survived.
