Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged in the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, asked his alleged “trans” partner, Lance Twiggs, to destroy evidence following the shooting.
The statement came during a briefing ahead of Robinson’s first court appearance.
Robinson appeared by video feed from jail as prosecutors formally filed charges.
Gray confirmed that the death penalty is on the table, citing the nature of the crime and the available evidence.
He emphasized that the decision to seek capital punishment was made independently by his office.
“Today, after reviewing the evidence that law enforcement has collected thus far, I am filing a criminal information charging Tyler James Robinson, age 22, with the following crimes,” Gray said during the announcement.
Robinson’s first charge is aggravated murder, a capital offense.
Prosecutors allege that Robinson intentionally caused the death of Charlie Kirk under circumstances that created a great risk of death to others.
The second charge is felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, classified as a first-degree felony.
Gray stated that this count is subject to aggravating factors.
“The state is further alleging aggravating factors on counts one and two because the defendant is believed to have targeted Charlie Kirk based on Charlie Kirk’s political expression and did so knowing that children were present and would witness the homicide,” Gray said.
The third charge against Robinson is obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony.
This count stems from accusations that Robinson moved and concealed the rifle used in the shooting.
The fourth charge, also obstruction of justice and a second-degree felony, relates to the alleged disposal of clothing worn during the shooting.
Gray detailed that Robinson faces a fifth charge of witness tampering, a third-degree felony, for allegedly directing his roommate to delete incriminating text messages.
The sixth charge, another count of witness tampering, accuses Robinson of instructing his roommate to remain silent if questioned by police.
Robinson’s seventh charge is commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child, a class A misdemeanor.
Prosecutors allege that he committed the homicide knowing that children were present and could have witnessed the act, and that he carried it out based on Kirk’s political expression.
In addition to outlining the charges, Gray said that Robinson directed Twiggs to destroy evidence connected to the crime.
Twiggs has not been charged at this time, but investigators confirmed that Robinson made requests to conceal materials after the shooting.
Gray added that his office filed a formal notice of intent to pursue the death penalty.
“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,” Gray stated.
Robinson remains in custody as prosecutors prepare their case. His legal team has not yet entered a plea on his behalf.
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