Utah Prosecutors Will Seek the Death Penalty Against Tyler Robinson for Charlie Kirk's Killing

[00:00] The murder of Charlie Kirk is an

[00:03] American tragedy.

[00:04] >> Authorities in Utah will seek the death

[00:07] penalty against 22-year-old Tyler

[00:09] Robinson in connection with the

[00:11] September 10th shooting of conservative

[00:13] activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley

[00:16] University in Oram. Authorities have

[00:18] filed multiple charges against Robinson,

[00:20] including aggravated murder, felony

[00:23] discharge of a firearm causing serious

[00:26] injury, obstruction of justice, witness

[00:28] tampering, and committing a violent

[00:30] offense in the presence of a child. The

[00:33] death penalty is being sought. During a

[00:36] press conference today, prosecutors

[00:38] revealed that Robinson allegedly

[00:40] targeted Kirk because of his political

[00:42] views, firing from a rooftop sniper

[00:44] position while children were present.

[00:47] DNA evidence linked Robinson to the

[00:49] rifle, and surveillance footage captured

[00:52] him accessing the sniper site.

[00:54] Investigators also pointed to

[00:56] inscriptions on bullets and texts to his

[00:58] roommate showing intent, including the

[01:01] message, "I had the opportunity to take

[01:03] out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take

[01:05] it." Robinson later allegedly confessed

[01:08] to his parents, citing Kirk spreading

[01:11] too much hate as a motive. Kirk was shot

[01:14] during a Turning Point USA event,

[01:16] prompting a 33-hour manhunt. Robinson

[01:19] surrendered the following day with his

[01:21] parents at the Washington County

[01:23] Sheriff's Office and is being held

[01:25] without bail. His first court appearance

[01:28] occurred today and the case will move to

[01:30] a preliminary hearing, then arraignment

[01:33] and eventually trial.

[01:34] >> I am filing a notice of intent to seek

[01:37] the death penalty.

[01:39] I do not take this decision lightly and

[01:42] it is a decision I have made

[01:44] independently. That was Utah County

[01:47] Attorney Jeff Gray. He also stressed

[01:49] that Robinson is presumed innocent and

[01:52] the decision to seek the death penalty

[01:54] was made independently of political

[01:56] pressure. Authorities have not ruled out

[01:59] the involvement of other individuals and

[02:02] federal charges are still under review.

[02:05] Investigations are ongoing regarding any

[02:07] role of online radicalization. Read the

[02:10] full story by Cody Blauers. This is

[02:12] Monica McLaclin for St. George News,

[02:15] your number one source for local news.