Tyler Robinson: Charlie Kirk suspect confessed in hidden note to roommate — Prosecutors
Tyler Robinson: Charlie Kirk suspect confessed in hidden note to roommate — Prosecutors
The suspect accused of fatally shooting right-wing activist, Charlie Kirk confessed to the crime in a hidden note left for his roommate, prosecutors have alleged.
Tyler Robinson, 22, is now facing seven criminal charges, including aggravated murder, after the Utah County Attorney’s Office unveiled new details of the case on Tuesday.
County Attorney Jeffrey Gray told reporters that the Charlie Kirk ‘suspect’ slipped the note under his computer keyboard for his roommate, who was also his romantic partner, to find.
“I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it,” the note allegedly read. Prosecutors also disclosed text exchanges between the pair in which Robinson claimed he had “had enough of [Kirk’s] hatred.”
He added that the roommate was the defendant’s romantic partner.
The prosecutor also shared text messages between the roommates, including one in which the defendant allegedly said he shot Kirk because he had “had enough of his hatred”.
Describing the alleged hidden note at a news conference earlier on Tuesday, Gray said the defendant had sent a text message to his roommate reading: “Drop what you’re doing, look under my keyboard.”
After reading the apparent confession, the roommate, who has not been named and is cooperating with investigators, replied: “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????”
Gray cited further lengthy text message exchanges between the defendant and his roommate, whom he described as his romantic partner. Authorities have said the roommate is transgender and transitioning from male to female.
In one exchange, the roommate asked the defendant why he had killed Kirk.
“‘I had enough of his hatred,’” Gray cited the messages as saying. “‘Some hate can’t be negotiated out.’”
The defendant also allegedly wrote: “To be honest, I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.”
The roommate replied: “you weren’t the one who did it right????”
The defendant replied: “I am, I’m sorry.”
Robinson, who was arrested last week following a 33-hour manhunt, is being held without bail in a special housing unit at the Utah County Jail.
He appeared remotely for his first court hearing on Tuesday, when prosecutors laid out the charges: aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and committing a violent crime in the presence of children. Authorities said they will seek the death penalty.
Kirk was killed last Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University, struck by a single gunshot fired from a rooftop.
Prosecutors revealed that Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the suspected rifle, which they said matched a weapon once owned by the suspect’s grandfather.
A makeshift memorial for Kirk has since been set up outside the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix, where mourners have laid flowers in his memory.
According to prosecutors, Robinson’s parents became suspicious after seeing images of the suspect released by authorities. His mother reportedly confronted him by phone, while his father later pressured him in person. Robinson allegedly hinted at suicide before a retired deputy sheriff and family friend persuaded him to surrender peacefully.
Prosecutors also accused Robinson of attempting to cover his tracks, instructing his roommate to delete their messages and keep quiet if questioned. In other texts, Robinson allegedly detailed his efforts to retrieve the rifle from a hidden “drop point” after the shooting, only to find police had locked down the area.
Gray acknowledged questions about Robinson’s political motives but said it would be up to a jury to decide whether Kirk was targeted for his views on transgender issues. At the time of the shooting, the conservative activist had been answering a question about mass shootings by transgender individuals.
Despite the alleged confession and mounting evidence, Gray emphasised Robinson’s right to a fair trial. “The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” he said.
A trial date has not yet been set.
(BBC)
