Utah County Prosecutor Jeff Gray announced Tuesday that he will seek the death penalty for Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the murder of ultra-conservative American activist Charlie Kirk, after he was formally charged with several charges, including aggravated murder.
Gray explained in a press conference that the suspect also faces two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and committing a violent crime in the presence of a minor.
“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy (…) He was killed while exercising one of our most sacred and cherished American rights, the cornerstone of our democratic republic: the free exchange of ideas and the pursuit of truth, understanding, and a more perfect union. It is also an offense against the State and against peace,” he said.
Gray, in a statement to the media, indicated that the witness tampering charges stem from ordering his roommate to delete text messages and remain silent. He also noted that it was Robinson’s mother who identified him through the photos released by authorities and told authorities that her son had accused “Kirk of spreading hate.”
Robinson, 22, will appear at 5:00 p.m. (local time, 11:00 p.m. CET) in a virtual court hearing, which will be his first court appearance since his arrest. He is currently being held without bail, and it is unknown if he has an attorney.
