How Utah carries out capital punishment as Trump calls for death penalty for Charlie Kirk killer

On Friday (12 September), the FBI announced that authorities have a person in custody who they believe is the suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk.

In a press conference, authorities explained that a 22-year-old man named Tyler Robinson, from Utah, had been apprehended, revealing that a family member of Robinson reached out to a friend who contacted authorities with information regarding his alleged involvement.

Prior to the press conference, President Donald Trump had revealed in an interview with Fox News that the suspect was in custody, explaining that everyone had 'done a good job' to find the person responsible for the death of Kirk.

He also revealed how he hoped the suspect would receive the death penalty.

"I hope he's gonna be found guilty, I would imagine, and I hope he gets the death penalty for what he did," he said.

Capital punishment is legal in Utah, and prior to the suspect being remanded in custody, Utah Governor Spencer Cox explained in a press conference: "I want to make it crystal clear right now to whoever did this, we will find you, we will try you and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law and I just want to remind people we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah."

So, what does capital punishment look like in Utah?

Robinson is in custody (FBI)

Well, Utah is one of 27 states that still has the death penalty, in the form of both lethal injection and firing squad.

However, the four men currently on death row in Utah have spent decades there. In fact, only eight executions have taken place since 1976, when the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment.

It seems that in the case of Robinson, arrest papers may also indicate that authorities are planning on pursuing capital punishment, should he be found guilty.

To prove a capital crime in Utah, the aggravated murder law requires certain factors to be met.

For example, if a defendant created 'a great risk of death' to other people besides the victim.

According to MSNBC, the affidavit claims that a state officer believed Robinson shot Kirk 'in a circumstance that put many around him at grave risk of death', due to the fact Kirk had been speaking to a large crowd at the time.

Governor Cox reminded people the death penalty still exists in Utah (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

If Robinson is found guilty and sentenced to death, Utah carries out both lethal injection and death by firing squad.

Recently, inmate Ralph Menzies was scheduled to be executed by firing squad on 5 September.

The Utah Supreme Court, however, halted the execution due to Menzies' dementia being so severe, he wasn't able to understand why he had been sentenced to death.

Menzies was sentenced for the 1986 murder of 26-year-old Maurine Hunsaker, a married mother-of-three.

Hunsaker was kidnapped and robbed before being found tied to a tree.

At the time of writing, Robinson is yet to be formally charged in court.