Tyler Robinson charged with aggravated murder and 6 other charges in connection with death of Charlie Kirk
Prosecutors have announced the charges which have been brought against Tyler Robinson, the man suspected of killing Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing speaker in the US, was shot dead at a Utah Valley University event on 10 September, with a manhunt launched for the shooter.
Footage from the university campus appeared to show a figure on the roof of a nearby building jumping down and making their escape, with a high-powered rifle later recovered nearby.
It was then announced that the authorities had someone in custody, 22-year-old Robinson, with some public figures having called for the death penalty for the shooter.
Advert
Now prosecutors have announced that Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder, commission of a violent offence in the presence of a child, two counts of witness tampering, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm.
The charge of aggravated murder carries the potential for the death penalty, and officials said they would be seeking that for Tyler Robinson.
As such, he will be kept in custody ahead of his upcoming trial.
The two counts for obstruction of justice are for moving a firearm and disposing of clothing, while the witness tampering charges are for telling a roommate to delete text messages and directing a roommate to stay quiet.
While the combination of six other charges would be enough to land Robinson behind bars for an extended period of time, the trial will likely focus on the charge of aggravated murder and whether or not the 22-year-old will be sentenced to death for his suspected part in the shooting of Kirk.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Grey said he does 'not take this decision lightly' on the subject of seeking the death penalty against Robinson.
FBI Director Kash Patel previously said Robinson was taken into custody on Thursday (11 September) and that several messages he supposedly sent on the platform Discord showed he was planning on turning himself in.
Messages allegedly sent from Robinson directed his roommate towards a note which prosecutors said 'I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it'.
The 22-year-old is accused of telling his roommate to 'delete this exchange' and not to speak to police, the accusations of which led to the charges of witness tampering.
Gray told assembled reporters that footage of Robinson walking across the campus with an 'unusual gait' which he said was 'consistent with a rifle being hidden in his pants'.
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Crime, US News, Tyler Robinson
Joe Harker