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The suspect in the assassination of prominent conservative political activist Charlie Kirk has been formally charged with aggravated murder, with prosecutors announcing Tuesday they will seek the death penalty.
Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of firing a single rifle shot from a rooftop that killed Kirk last Wednesday (Sept. 10) during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 40 miles (64 km) south of Salt Lake City.
"After reviewing the evidence that law enforcement has collected thus far, I am charging Tyler James Robinson, age 22 with the following crimes," Utah County attorney Jeff Gray told a press conference.
"Count one, aggravated murder, a capital offense, for intentionally or knowingly causing the death of Charlie Kirk under circumstances that created a great risk of death to others," he noted.
Gray said Robinson faces seven charges total, including obstruction of justice and witness tampering for allegedly ordering his roommate to delete texts and "stay silent" if questioned by police.
"I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty," Gray added.
"I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently as county attorney based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime," he added.
Gray said Robinson's DNA was found on the trigger of the gun used to kill Kirk.
Kirk, 31, was speaking to an audience of 3,000 people when he was shot in the neck with a bolt-action rifle. The founder of conservative youth group Turning Point USA and a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump died soon after the attack.
Robinson initially escaped in the chaos following the shooting but was arrested Thursday night at his parents' house, some 260 miles (418 km) southwest of the crime scene, after a 33-hour manhunt.
Relatives and a family friend alerted authorities that Robinson had implicated himself in the shooting, according to Governor Spencer Cox.
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