Daijiworld Media Network - Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Sep 17: Prosecutors in Utah on Tuesday announced that they will seek the death penalty for Tyler Robinson, 22, accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Robinson is charged with aggravated murder and six other criminal counts after allegedly firing a single rifle shot from a rooftop that struck Kirk in the neck during his address at Utah Valley University in Orem last Wednesday.
Court documents revealed text messages in which Robinson is said to have confessed to his roommate, stating, “I had enough of his hatred.” Investigators also recovered DNA evidence linking Robinson to the weapon used in the killing.
Utah County District Attorney Jeffrey Gray said the decision to pursue capital punishment was taken independently, based on the nature and circumstances of the crime.
Robinson appeared in court via video link, wearing a suicide-prevention vest. He remained expressionless as the judge informed him of the charges and the possibility of the death penalty. The court found him unable to afford an attorney and appointed legal counsel. He has been remanded without bail and placed under special watch at Washington County Jail.
The killing, captured in disturbing video clips that went viral online, sparked nationwide outrage and renewed debate over political violence. Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent supporter of Donald Trump, was addressing nearly 3,000 attendees at the time of the attack.
The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for September 29.