Assassination aftermath: What to know about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk

Listen to this article

Authorities in Utah will seek the death penalty against a 22-year-old man charged in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on a college campus.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray told reporters Tuesday that he would file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty after announcing aggravated murder and other charges against Tyler Robinson.

Gray said Robinson would remain jailed without bond.

Robinson is “believed to have targeted Charlie Kirk based on Charlie Kirk’s political expression and did so knowing children were present and would witness the homicide,” Gray said. After Kirk was shot, “Robinson hid the gun, discarded the clothing he wore when he fired the rifle and told his roommate to delete incriminating text messages and not talk to police.”

Robinson also was charged with discharging a firearm, obstruction of justice and witness tampering for telling his roommate to remain silent about the shooting.

Gray called Kirk’s killing “an American tragedy” and said Robinson’s DNA was found on trigger of the gun used to kill Kirk.

Robinson, of Washington, Utah, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder and other felony offenses in the Sept. 10 shooting.

Once charges are filed, Robinson was scheduled to appear on camera for a virtual court hearing. He has been held without bail since his arrest, and it remained unclear whether he has an attorney.

Investigators have spoken to Robinson’s relatives and carried out a search warrant at his family’s home in Washington, about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of Utah Valley University, where the shooting took place.

Here are things to know about the killing:

What do we know about motive?

Authorities have not provided many details about why they think Robinson carried out the attack.

“There clearly was a leftist ideology,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, noting that family and friends said Robinson’s politics veered left in recent years. They recounted to authorities a dinner table conversation in which he mentioned Kirk’s upcoming visit to Utah Valley University.

Cox said Robinson is “not cooperating” and that his friends have painted a picture of someone radicalized in the dark corners of the internet. Cox stressed on several Sunday morning news shows that investigators are still trying to pin down a motive for the attack on the father of two and confidant of President Donald Trump.

State records show Robinson is registered to vote but is not affiliated with a political party and is listed as inactive, meaning he did not vote in the two most recent general elections.

What do we know about Robinson?

He grew up around St. George, in the southwestern corner of Utah, between Las Vegas and natural landmarks including Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.

Robinson became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church, at a young age, church spokesperson Doug Andersen said.

Robinson has two younger brothers, and his parents have been married for about 25 years, according to social media posts.

Like many in that part of Utah, the family frequently spent time outdoors — boating, fishing, riding ATVs, zip-lining and target shooting. A 2017 post shows the family visiting a military facility and posing with assault rifles. A young Robinson is seen smiling as he grips the handles of a .50-caliber heavy machine gun.

A high school honor roll student who scored in the 99th percentile nationally on standardized tests, he was admitted to Utah State University in 2021 on a prestigious academic scholarship, according to a video of him reading his acceptance letter that was posted to a family member’s social media account.

But he attended for only one semester, according to a university spokesperson. He was most recently enrolled as a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George.

Robinson’s partner is transgender, Cox said. Some politicians have pointed to that as a sign Robinson was targeting Kirk for his anti-transgender views, but authorities have not said whether it is relevant to the investigation. Cox said the partner has been “incredibly cooperative,” and “had no idea that this was happening.”

What has the fallout from the assassination been?

It prompted calls for greater civility in the country’s political discourse, especially on social media. But many people have made comments about Kirk and the shooting that brought consequences. Numerous workers have been fired for their comments on Kirk’s death, among them MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd.

It’s not the first time people have lost jobs over things they say publicly, but the speed of the firings has raised questions about free speech rights.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ education commissioner warned teachers in the state that making “disgusting” statements about Kirk’s assassination could draw sanctions, including the suspension or revocation of their teaching licenses.

A conservative internet personality who is embedded with immigration agents in Chicago filmed a video outside Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s private home in which he urged viewers to “take action” after Kirk’s assassination. Pritzker’s office said his security has been increased in recent days.

Partisans have been fighting over who’s to blame for Kirk’s death, but experts on political violence say many of those who commit such crimes seem to act on beliefs that don’t map clearly onto partisan lines. They say the broader political environment is more important: The more heated the atmosphere, the more likely it is to lead unstable people to commit acts of violence.

Memorials are held in Washington, Arizona and elsewhere

A vigil at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., was among numerous tributes to Kirk on Sunday. The line of mourners in Washington wrapped around the center.

Kirk also was memorialized at Dream City Church in Phoenix, where he hosted one of his “Freedom Night in America” gatherings. Attendees viewed clips of Kirk discussing his desire to be “remembered for courage for my faith.” Angel Barnett, a church pastor, called on the crowd to honor Kirk by carrying on his message.

Flowers, U.S. flags and handwritten messages were left at a makeshift memorial at Utah Valley University’s main entrance. The school has said there will be increased security when classes resume Wednesday.

Turning Point USA, Kirk’s conservative organization, will hold a memorial for him Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium outside Phoenix, where the Arizona Cardinals play. Kirk’s casket arrived Thursday in his home state aboard Air Force Two, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance.

His widow, Erika Kirk, vowed to continue his campus tour and his radio and podcast shows.

“To everyone listening tonight across America, the movement my husband built will not die,” she said Friday in a livestreamed video. “It won’t. I refuse to let that happen.”

Politicians unite in condemning the attack

Kirk’s assassination is “an attack on the American experiment” and values, and “cuts to the very foundation of who we are,” Cox said.

“This is our moment: Do we escalate or do we find an off-ramp?” Cox asked at the news conference, making an impassioned plea for young people to bridge differences through common ground rather than violence. “It’s a choice.”

Kirk’s killing was swiftly condemned by Republicans and Democrats alike.

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who last March hosted Kirk on his podcast, posted on X: “The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.”

Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff and issued a presidential proclamation. The president, who sustained a minor ear injury when he was shot at a campaign event last year, said he and Kirk had a close relationship.

“He wanted to help young people, and he didn’t deserve this,” Trump said Friday.

One gunshot fired from a roof

Utah Valley is the state’s largest public university, with an enrollment of 47,000. It’s about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of the state capital, Salt Lake City.

Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point when the shooter fired from a distant rooftop, authorities said.

Kirk’s rise from Trump aide to major conservative influencer

Kirk was 18 years old when he co-founded Turning Point in suburban Chicago in 2012 with William Montgomery, a tea party activist. They aimed to take their ideas for low taxes and limited government to college campuses.

Turning Point enthusiastically backed Trump after he clinched the GOP nomination for president in 2016. Kirk served as a personal aide to the then-candidate’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., during the general election campaign.

Kirk also was known for provocative statements on race that he used to court Gen Z voters.

“I’m sorry. If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified,’” Kirk said during a 2024 podcast with fellow conservative activist Jack Posobiec.

Trump said Thursday that he would posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Kirk at a later date.

This story was updated on Sept. 15 and again on Sept. 16. It was originally published on Sept. 12.