The man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been officially charged with murder. On Tuesday, prosecutors laid out a growing body of evidence against 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, including DNA matches, a text message confession, and a handwritten note stating: \u201cI had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I\u2019m going to take it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray confirmed that Robinson\u2019s DNA was found on the trigger of the bolt-action rifle used in the killing. Gray also revealed that Robinson had planned the attack for over a week and left the incriminating note under a keyboard in the home he shared with his partner. The charges could carry the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.<\/p>\n
Kirk, a nationally known conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Despite medical attention, he died at the scene, sparking national outrage and calls for swift justice.<\/p>\n
FBI officials say Robinson had a \u201crabid obsession\u201d with Kirk and was ideologically driven by hatred toward his political views. Deputy Director Dan Bongino noted that digital evidence and testimony from friends and family support the conclusion that the murder was politically motivated and carefully premeditated.<\/p>\n
FBI Director Kash Patel added that Robinson not only wrote the note in advance but also shared his plan with others via text messages and Discord. The day after the shooting, Robinson confessed in a group chat: \u201cIt was me at UVU yesterday. I\u2019m sorry for all of this.\u201d Prosecutors are pursuing a first-degree murder indictment and seeking the death penalty.<\/p>\n