Tyler Robinson Allegedly Explained Why He Killed Charlie Kirk in Texts to Romantic Partner: Prosecutor By Ben Brachfeld 430

Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with killing Charlie Kirk, allegedly left a trail of texts to his roommate and partner in which he seemingly admitted to the crime, the Utah County Attorney said on Tuesday in announcing charges.

The disclosures came on Tuesday as County Attorney Jeff Gray announced the seven charges against Robinson, 22, led by an aggravated murder count that could land him the death penalty if convicted. Robinson is set to go before a judge for the first time in the afternoon on Sept. 16.

According to Gray and an unsealed charging document, Robinson’s roommate — who is transitioning from male to female and with whom he was in a romantic relationship — received a text from Robinson on Sept. 10, after Kirk’s killing at Utah Valley University in Orem, telling him to “look under my keyboard.”

There, the roommate found a note that read “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” according to the charging document.

The roommate asked twice if Robinson was serious, to which Robinson allegedly said he was, and that he was “sorry to involve you” because he intended to keep the secret until he died, per the documents.

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Asked why he murdered the right-wing activist, Robinson allegedly replied “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”

Robinson allegedly began texting the roommate while still in Orem, and intended to retrieve the bolt-action rifle used in the killing. He was unable to get the rifle, wrapped in a towel and dropped in the woods, because “most of that side of town got locked down.”

Robinson, who allegedly said he had planned the shooting for “a bit over a week,” appeared worried he wouldn’t be able to retrieve the rifle, which was a gift from his family.

“I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle,” he allegedly wrote. “I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits.”

“How the f— will I explain losing it to my old man,” he allegedly continued.

Later, Robinson allegedly told the roommate to delete the text exchange, for which he is charged with witness tampering, and noted his dad — whom he described as “pretty diehard maga” — was asking for “photos of the rifle” after the FBI released images of the “unique” firearm used in the killing.

Robinson ultimately would allegedly tell the roommate that he was turning himself in after his parents recognized him as the person in surveillance imagery and a family friend, a sheriff’s deputy, convinced him to turn himself in.

“[Y]ou are all I worry about love,” Robinson allegedly wrote, to which the roommate wrote, “I’m much more worried about you.”

In response, Robinson allegedly asked the roommate “don’t talk to the media please” and to stay silent and hire a lawyer if questioned by police.

The roommate, whose name hasn’t been made public, is fully cooperating with authorities.