Charlie Kirk 'assassin' Tyler Robinson charged as prosecutors seek death penalty

The man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk has been charged with aggravated murder, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.

Prosecutors allege Tyler Robinson shot Kirk in the neck with a bolt-action rifle from the roof of a nearby campus building as the conservative activist held a rally at Utah Valley University last Wednesday. Robinson, 22, was also charged with felony discharge of a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The alleged killerwas scheduled to appear on camera for a virtual court hearing on Tuesday afternoon. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has said he will seek the death penalty.

READ MORE: Charlie Kirk suspect's 'confession' in FULL moments before handing himself in

READ MORE: Charlie Kirk 'assassin' Tyler Robinson left chilling note about 'taking out' activist

Robinson is facing seven charges in total:

• Count 1: Aggravated murder

• Count 2: Felony discharge of a firearm

• Count 3: Obstruction of justice - moving a firearm

• Count 4: Obstruction of justice - disposing of clothing

• Count 5: Witness tampering - telling a roommate to delete text messages

• Count 6: Witness tampering - directing a roommate to stay quiet

• Count 7: Committing violent crime when children are present

Speaking during a press conference, Gray said: “I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty." He 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. Because we are seeking the death penalty, the defendant will continue to be held without bail in the Utah County Jail."

Following a 33-hour-long manhunt, Robinson handed himself in to police after his father recognised him from CCTV footage released by authorities during the search. The news of the charges comes after Robinson reportedly made a confession to friends in a Discord group before handing himself in.

“Hey guys, I have bad news for you all,” states the message sent by Robinson, according to the Washington Post. “It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m sorry for all of this. Im surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments. thanks for all the good times and laughs, you’ve all been so amazing, thank you all for everything.”

Investigators have spoken to Robinson's relatives and carried out a search warrant at his family's home in Washington, Utah, about 240 miles southwest of where the shooting happened. While authorities say Robinson hasn't been cooperating with investigators, they say his family and friends have been talking.

FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Channel show Fox & Friends that DNA evidence has linked Robinson to a towel wrapped around a rifle found near the Utah Valley campus and a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired. Before the shooting, Robinson wrote in a note that he had an opportunity to take out Kirk and was going to do it, according to Mr Patel.

Officials said Robinson carried a hatred for Kirk and ascribed to a “leftist ideology” which had grown in recent years. Robinson’s family and friends said he spent large amounts of time scrolling the “dark corners of the internet,” according to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.

Mr Patel said investigators had pieced together a written message by suspect Robinson in which he suggested he would kill Kirk. “He had an opportunity to take out Kirk and was going to make use of it,” he said. Investigators were able to recover the note’s contents after it had been destroyed, the FBI director said, paraphrasing from the note without revealing more details.