Utah County prosecutors filed aggravated murder charges against Tyler Robinson on Tuesday (September 16, 2025), releasing shocking text messages that reveal his alleged confession and motive for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Tyler Robinson, 22, now faces seven criminal charges in connection with the September 10 shooting that killed Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced during a Tuesday press conference that prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Robinson, who allegedly fired a single shot from 160 yards away while Kirk spoke to hundreds of students.
According to charging documents released Tuesday, the investigation gained crucial momentum through text messages Robinson exchanged with his roommate in the hours following the shooting. The exchanges provide what prosecutors describe as a detailed confession and glimpse into Robinson’s alleged motivation.
The text conversation began when Robinson sent a message to his roommate stating, “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.” When his roommate looked, he discovered a handwritten note that read, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” according to the charging document.
Initially confused, his roommate responded by asking if Robinson was joking. “To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age,” Robinson allegedly replied. “I am sorry to involve you.”
When his roommate directly asked whether Robinson was responsible for the shooting, Robinson confirmed his involvement. The conversation then turned to Robinson’s alleged motive when his roommate asked why he committed the act.
“I had enough of his hatred,” Robinson allegedly wrote in response. “Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
The text messages reveal Robinson had been planning the attack for more than a week. He expressed concern about retrieving the rifle he had hidden in a wooded area near the campus, referring to it as his grandfather’s weapon. “I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpa’s rifle … idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me,” Robinson allegedly texted.
Additionally, the messages reference the inscriptions Robinson had carved into bullet casings found at the scene. “Remember how I was engraving bullets? The f—-in messages are mostly a big meme,” he allegedly wrote to his roommate.
The investigation took a significant turn when Robinson’s own parents recognized him in surveillance images released by the FBI. Robinson’s mother expressed concern to her husband that the suspect shooter looked like Robinson. Robinson’s father agreed, prosecutors said. After confronting their son, the parents convinced Robinson to surrender to authorities, ending a 33-hour manhunt.
Prosecutors revealed that Robinson’s relationship with his transgender roommate may have contributed to political tensions within his family. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said that Robinson’s roommate is a biological male who is undergoing a gender transition. Robinson’s mother told investigators that her son had “become more political and had started to lean more to the left, becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented” in recent months.
The charging documents also detail Robinson’s alleged attempts to cover up his crime. Throughout the text conversation, he repeatedly urged his roommate to delete their messages and avoid speaking with investigators. Robinson allegedly instructed his roommate not to talk to media and to request a lawyer if questioned by police.
Robinson faces multiple charges beyond aggravated murder, including felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.
“I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently as county attorney based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime,” Gray said regarding the decision to seek the death penalty.
Kirk’s assassination has intensified national discussions about political violence in America. The conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder was a close ally of President Donald Trump and wielded significant influence among young conservative voters. Kirk’s death has gripped the nation and generated highly charged reactions.
Robinson appeared virtually in court Tuesday afternoon for his initial hearing. He remains held without bail at the Utah County Jail. Meanwhile, federal authorities are expected to file separate charges against Robinson related to the assassination.
The case continues to develop as investigators work to piece together Robinson’s complete motive and the timeline leading up to the shooting. Robinson, who authorities say is not cooperating with the investigation, could face execution if convicted of the aggravated murder charge under Utah law.
