Kirk killing suspect faces aggravated murder charges and death penalty

People visit a makeshift memorial for Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot last week, on the campus at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (Loren Elliott/The New York Times)

By ANNA GRIFFIN, JACK HEALY, NICHOLAS BOGEL-BURROUGHS and JACEY FORTIN

Prosecutors on Tuesday unveiled a tranche of evidence against the 22-year-old man from southern Utah that they accused of killing right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk — and much of it comes from the suspect’s own words in exchanges with friends and family.

In announcing aggravated murder charges against the man, Tyler Robinson, and saying they would seek the death penalty, prosecutors said that the suspect had texted his partner, writing, “I had enough of his hatred,” referring to Kirk, and had planned the shooting days in advance.

Robinson is scheduled to make his first court appearance at 3 p.m. Mountain time, and will be appointed a lawyer if he does not already have representation.

Here’s what we’re covering:

— Parents’ role: Robinson’s parents recognized him in an image of the shooting suspect shared by law enforcement, according to the charging documents, and called their son, convincing him to return home to southwestern Utah and eventually to turn himself in, about 33 hours after the shooting on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. His mother told police that her son’s political views had moved to the left over the past year, specifically focusing on gay and transgender rights, prosecutors said.

— Written note: Robinson texted his partner after the shooting and told him to look under a keyboard in their shared apartment, according to the charges. There, his partner found a note that said, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” This appears to be the note referenced by FBI Director Kash Patel, who has faced scrutiny over his leadership of the agency and the shooting investigation.

— National fallout: Trump administration officials have threatened to crack down on what they say is a left-wing network that funds and incites violence against conservatives — without presenting evidence that such a network exists. Officials in Utah have said they believe that Robinson acted alone and expect no additional charges.I was telling the world what the FBI was doing.”