Deseret News (@deseret.com.web.brid.gy)

Tyler Robinson appears before judge to face charges in the murder of Charlie Kirk Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, had his first court appearance in Utah’s 4th District Court located in Provo, Utah, Tuesday. Robinson appeared in court virtually from the Utah County Jail. He appeared to show no emotion as Judge Tony Graf read the state’s charges against him, but he did respond to the judge to say his name, and he nodded slightly a few times. From his cell, Robinson could be seen wearing a suicide-prevention smock, which court officials said is standard for high-profile prisoners at the Utah County Jail. Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney Greg Skordas appeared before Graf, representing Utah County, requesting that the judge assign counsel to Robinson. Graf told Robinson that he is aware he is indigent, meaning he is too poor to afford legal representation. Utah County Deputy Attorney Chad Grunander told the court that his team has filed a pre-trial protective order for Charlie Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk. He added that they intend to seek the death penalty. The Utah County Attorney’s office filed seven charges against the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination on Tuesday afternoon also in Provo. Robinson’s next court date is Sept. 29. Officials said they would seek the death penalty in the case. Those crimes, according to the charges, are: * Count 1: Aggravated murder, a capital felony, that the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused the death of Charlie Kirk. * Count 2: Discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, a first degree felony. The defendant targeted Charlie Kirk because of political motives, knowing children would be present. * Count 3: Obstruction of justice, a second degree felony, for moving firearm used in a crime. * Count 4: Obstruction of justice, a second degree felony, for disposing clothing he wore during the shooting. * Count 5: Witness tampering, a third degree felony, directing his roommate to delete his texts. * Count 6: Witness tampering, a third degree felony, for directing his roommate to stay silent. * Count 7: Violent offense in the presence of a child, a class A misdemeanor. Charging documents can be found here and here. Charging documents Affidavit of probable cause Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said he will also be filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty in the case against Robinson, a decision he said he chose independently. Gray said he was not pressured by either the Trump administration or Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s office to seek the death penalty. He said the federal government is reviewing separate potential charges but did not comment further. Because the state is seeking the death penalty, Robinson will continue to be held without bail in the Utah County jail. Gray told a room full of state and national news reporters: “The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy.” Kirk was “engaging in one of our most sacred American rights. The bedrock of our democratic republic,” Gray added. “It is also an offense against the state and peace and enjoyment of the people Utah and all those who visit here.” He continued to share his condolences for the Kirk family, specifically his wife, Erika and their two young children, as well as the people who witnessed the tragedy at Utah Valley University last Wednesday. Gray said Robinson’s mother and father turned their son in. “Robinson’s mother explained that over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political and had started to lean more to the left – becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented," the charging documents say. “She stated that Robinson began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders. This resulted in several discussions with family members, but especially between Robinson and his father, who have very different political views.” Robinson is expected to appear in Utah’s 4th District Court at 3 p.m. MDT, located in Provo, Utah. Kirk was shot and killed during a “Prove Me Wrong” debate at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. Robinson allegedly shot Kirk from the roof of the Losee Center, a building next to the grassy amphitheater at UVU where Kirk was interacting with 3,000 students and visitors. Robinson was apprehended at approximately 10 p.m. in Washington City, Utah, on Thursday night, after a statewide manhunt was carried out. The medical examiner’s report on Kirk is still pending. ### Gray details evidence that led to allegations Gray further detailed the investigation that has taken place in the days since the event at the UVU campus occurred, leading the Utah County Attorney’s office to file the criminal charges on Tuesday. “I am charged with bringing justice for those who are harmed. I am charged with bringing justice for Charlie Kirk,” and is committed to doing so, Gray said. Tyler James Robinson went to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with his parents and a family friend to turn himself in. Gray said that the day after the shooting, Robinson’s mother saw the photo of the alleged suspect all over national news, and thought it looked like her son. His mother then apparently called her son and asked where Robinson was. He responded, saying he was at home sick and was the day before as well. The day Kirk was killed. His mother then told her husband. Robinson’s father agreed that the photos looked like his son. The rifle was given to his son as a gift. Robinson’s father spoke on the phone with Robinson. Robinson implied he was going to take his own life. They told him to come over and speak with a family friend who had previously worked in law enforcement. Over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political and more “pro-gay and trans rights oriented,” those close to him told authorities, according to Gray. He had begun staying with a roommate who was transitioning from male to female. This resulted in many conversations between Robinson and his father. Robinson accused Kirk of “spreading hate.” Police found several target boards with bullet holes in his home, Gray said. He stressed that despite the public’s desire to know the facts, they are reluctant to share details of the investigation to ensure a fair trial. ### Speculation of accomplices FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino told Fox News that some people may have known in advance of Robinson’s plans to murder Charlie Kirk. “If this was a larger effort, if there was any aiding and abetting, whether it be financial or someone who knew the specifics of it and failed to report that, we’re looking into that,” Bongino said, Monday. “There’s not going to be a stone left unturned.” The FBI is using subpoenas to investigate if Robinson had an “extended network.” From Robinson’s digital footprint, it has been clear that his “ideology had infected him,” and “he was intent on making Charlie his target,” Bongino said. He added, “People may have known in advance.” Just two hours before Robinson was placed in custody on Thursday night, he allegedly sent a message to a private Discord group chat confessing he shot and killed Kirk, per screenshots obtained by The Washington Post. At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday morning, FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI is investigating Kirk’s assassination “fully and completely.” “We’re also going to be investigating anyone and everyone involved in that Discord chat,” Patel said, noting there were many more than 20 participants. “We’re running them all down,” he said, “every single one.” The final question Kirk answered before being shot was about transgender shooters. Regarding the man who had asked the question, Bongino told Fox News, “I don’t want to say conclusively right now if there was a connection or not. It’s not terribly uncommon for [Kirk] to get questions like that. However, we are looking into that.” “There appear to have been multiple warning signs” about Robinson going off the deep end, Bongino said. “There were people in his network, friends and family who had stated that he had become more political.” Officials have so far been tight-lipped about divulging what exactly put Robinson over the edge regarding Kirk, but Bongino described the suspect as having “some obsession” with him based on his “digital footprints” — calling the assassination “an ideologically motivated attack.” ### Arrested at the scene, 71-year-old George Zinn handed felonies George Zinn, who was taken into custody from Utah Valley University campus following Kirk’s assassination, is currently being held in Utah County Jail for felony charges. His charges include second felony obstruction of justice and four counts of second felony sexual exploitation of a minor. Zinn was initially unwilling to cooperate with law enforcement, until he was sent to a local hospital, per a press release obtained by the Deseret News by the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. While at the hospital, Zinn agreed to speak with an FBI agent and an agent from the Utah State Bureau of Investigation regarding his involvement in Kirk’s murder. “Zinn admitted that he had yelled that he was the shooter to allow the actual suspect to flee and to hinder Law Enforcement,” according to the press release. He also allowed agents to view his phone and admitted “that he uses his phone to view and abuse Child Sex Abuse Material and there may be some images on his phone. Those Agents did see several images on the phone of prepubescent girls scantily dressed.” ### Evidence mounts against Robinson, FBI said FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News on Monday morning that three objects connected to Kirk’s murder have been connected to Robinson as well. They include: * A screwdriver found on UVU’s roof containing Robinson’s DNA. * The towel the firearm was wrapped in containing Robinson’s DNA. * A note written by Robinson before the killing. He also said that further evidence connecting Robinson is being exposed in his digital footprint. “The evidence and information will come out, I won’t stylize the evidence,” he said, “but I will say what was found in terms of information [was] a text message exchange where he, the suspect, specifically stated that he had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and he was going to do that.” “And when he was asked why, he said some hatred cannot be negotiated with.” ### AG Pam Bondi criticizes Left ‘hate speech’ Early Tuesday morning, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media condemning hate speech, and accused the political left of normalizing dangerous rhetoric. “You cannot call for someone’s murder. You cannot swat a Member of Congress. You cannot dox a conservative family and think it will be brushed off as ‘free speech.’ These acts are punishable crimes, and every single threat will be met with the full force of the law,” Bondi wrote. She added, “It is clear this violent rhetoric is designed to silence others from voicing conservative ideals. We will never be silenced. Not for our families, not for our freedoms, and never for Charlie. His legacy will not be erased by fear or intimidation.” > Hate speech that crosses the line into threats of violence is NOT protected by the First Amendment. It’s a crime. For far too long, we’ve watched the radical left normalize threats, call for assassinations, and cheer on political violence. That era is over. > > Under 18 U.S.C. §… > > — Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) September 16, 2025 ### Patel: More than 20 people on Robinson Discord chat At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday morning, FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI is investigating Kirk’s assassination “fully and completely.” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., asked Patel if he could give any more information, other than what he’s already shared publicly, on how the FBI is finding other potential accomplices or people who have known or even encouraged him. Patel emphasized the FBI’s immediate work interviewing those close to the suspect — family and friends — but also, he said, they are looking at his conversations on Discord, the online chat platform for gamers, where the private chat occurred. He said the evidence found will potentially be used in the prosecution against Robinson. “We’re also going to be investigating anyone and everyone involved in that Discord chat,” Patel said. Hawley then clarified how many people were on the chat, to which Patel noted that it is a lot more than 20. “It’s a lot more than that and we’re running them all down,” he said, “every single one.” > 🚨 BREAKING: FBI Director Kash Patel confirms FBI is investigating OVER 20 people in Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson’s Discord chat > > There is NO WAY nobody knew anything. > > If anyone encouraged or supported Tyler, THEY should be in jail too! pic.twitter.com/94EX8HEjVo > > — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 16, 2025 https://www.deseret.com/politics/2025/09/16/who-else-knew-about-charlie-kirks-murder-tyler-robinson-charges/