Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, allegedly left a trail of messages to his roommate and romantic partner in which he appeared to admit to the crime and explained his motive, Utah County authorities revealed Tuesday.
County Attorney Jeff Gray announced the seven charges against Robinson, led by an aggravated murder count that carries the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted. Robinson is scheduled for his first court appearance later on Sept. 16.
According to Gray and unsealed charging documents, Robinson’s roommate — who is transitioning from male to female and had been in a romantic relationship with Robinson — received a message from Robinson on Sept. 10, the day of Kirk’s killing at Utah Valley University in Orem. The text instructed the roommate to “look under my keyboard,” where a note was allegedly found reading, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
The roommate reportedly asked Robinson twice whether he was serious. Robinson allegedly confirmed he was, expressing regret for involving the roommate and stating he had intended to keep the secret until his death. When pressed about his motive, Robinson allegedly replied, “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
The documents suggest Robinson began communicating with the roommate while still in Orem and attempted to retrieve the bolt-action rifle used in the attack. The firearm, which he described as a gift from his family, had been wrapped in a towel and left in the woods. Robinson allegedly expressed concern about recovering it, noting that “most of that side of town got locked down” and worried about leaving fingerprints.
In the messages, Robinson allegedly wrote, “I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpa’s rifle,” and lamented, “How the f— will I explain losing it to my old man.”
The texts also include instructions to the roommate to delete the messages, forming the basis of a witness tampering charge. Robinson reportedly mentioned that his father, whom he described as “pretty diehard MAGA,” had requested photos of the firearm after images of the weapon were released by the FBI.
According to prosecutors, Robinson ultimately indicated he would surrender to authorities after his parents recognized him in surveillance footage and a family friend — a sheriff’s deputy — persuaded him to turn himself in. In the messages, he allegedly wrote to his partner, “[Y]ou are all I worry about love,” to which the roommate responded, “I’m much more worried about you.” Robinson then instructed the roommate not to speak to the media and to remain silent and hire legal counsel if questioned by police.
The roommate, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, has fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation, according to officials.