Seven Charges Filed Against Suspect in Charlie Kirk Assassination as Parents’ Role Revealed By Prosecutors

Prosecutors confirmed they will pursue the death penalty

OREM, UTAH — Prosecutors say the parents of Tyler Robinson played a critical role in his arrest after recognizing him as the suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk, 31, was killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. Authorities said he was shot in the neck during the rally, sparking an urgent statewide manhunt.

Robinson, 22, was taken into custody the following day after his parents contacted law enforcement. On Tuesday, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced that Robinson is now facing seven charges, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.

Prosecutors confirmed they will pursue the death penalty.

According to Gray, it was Robinson’s mother who first became suspicious after investigators released surveillance photos of the alleged gunman. She reportedly thought the person resembled her son and reached out to him.

When asked about his whereabouts, Robinson allegedly claimed he had been sick at home both the day of the shooting and the day after.

Still uneasy, she alerted Robinson’s father, who also believed the suspect matched his son. The two ultimately shared their concerns with law enforcement, leading to Robinson’s arrest.

Gray said Robinson’s mother later told investigators that her son had become increasingly political over the past year, frequently clashing with his father, whom Robinson once described as “pretty die-hard MAGA.”

During Tuesday’s briefing, Gray also revealed text messages Robinson allegedly exchanged with his roommate. When asked why he targeted Kirk, Robinson reportedly replied: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.” Prosecutors say Robinson admitted he had planned the shooting for more than a week.

Police recovered a bolt-action rifle — reportedly a family heirloom wrapped in a towel near the scene — and say DNA on the trigger and etched cartridge casings link the weapon to the defendant.  Robinson’s father informed authorities that the firearm believed to have been used in the attack matched a rifle previously gifted to his son.

Robinson remains in custody as prosecutors prepare to seek the death penalty in what Gray described as a “premeditated and politically motivated” killing.

Similar Stories