Salt Lake City (US), September 17 (HS): Prosecutors in Utah have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in the fatal campus shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, opening the way for a possible death penalty if convicted.
Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck on September 10 while addressing students at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. Prosecutors allege Robinson fired a bolt-action rifle from the roof of a university building, where investigators later recovered DNA evidence linking him to the weapon as well as discarded clothing.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray called Kirk’s killing “an American tragedy,” confirming that Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the rifle. Authorities say Robinson left behind a handwritten note confessing his intent to assassinate Kirk and later admitted his actions.
Alongside aggravated murder, Robinson faces charges of felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice, punishable by lengthy prison terms. He was arrested last Thursday in his hometown of St. George and appeared virtually in court on Tuesday.
FBI Director Kash Patel told lawmakers that investigators are probing Robinson’s online activity, including his participation in a gaming chatroom on Discord. Authorities are also examining whether his relationship with a transgender partner may have contributed to the motive, given Kirk’s controversial stance on transgender rights.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Robinson’s recent political radicalization and online behavior are central to the ongoing probe. While investigators believe he acted alone, they are also scrutinizing whether anyone knew of his plans in advance.
Kirk, a high-profile conservative voice and founder of Turning Point USA, was a close ally of former President Donald Trump and a polarizing figure in America’s culture wars. His assassination has reignited a national debate over escalating political violence and deepening polarization across the United States.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
