Featured Image Credit: Utah State Courts
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, Crime, US News, Donald Trump
James Moorhouse
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, Crime, US News, Donald Trump
Video footage has captured the chilling moment Charlie Kirk's shooting suspect, Tyler Robinson, was told that the state would be seeking the death penalty.
Kirk was fatally shot at a speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10, with President Donald Trump confirming shortly after the incident that the 31-year-old activist had passed away.
He said: "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"
After CCTV footage captured a man on the roof of a building campus close to where Kirk was speaking, a manhunt was launched for the killer, and the FBI were able to bring 22-year-old Tyler Robinson into custody just 33 hours after the investigation began.
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Details have been confirmed in the wake of Robinson's capture, with the Utah resident reportedly vocal about his dislike for Kirk and his politics, while messages allegedly sent from Robinson directed his roommate towards a note, which said: "I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it."
A message allegedly sent by Robinson also revealed a potential motive for the killing, reading: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I’m able to grab my rifle unseen I will have left no evidence.
"Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it."
Yesterday, prosecutors 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.
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In the wake of Kirk's murder, Trump had called for the guilty party to be handed a death penalty, and it seems as if the President's wish may well come true after footage from the Utah State Courts recorded the moment Robinson was told about his prospective punishment.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray filed an intent to seek the death penalty for Robinson, and there is no doubt that he very briefly looked shocked after hearing the news, in what is only the beginning of what is likely to be a long-running and highly scrutinised legal process.
Take a look at the moment below:
The FBI also confirmed some of the messages that were discovered on a Discord account, which reportedly belongs to Robinson, in which he seemingly owns up to the killing of Kirk.
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One message reads: "It was me at UVU yesterday. I'm sorry for all of this."
Another said: "I'm surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments, thanks for all the good times and laughs, you've all been so amazing, thank you all for everything."
Kirk's funeral is set to go ahead on Sunday (21 September) at the State Farm Stadium in Arizona, a venue which can seat more than 60,000 people.