The man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk appeared in a Utah courtroom on Tuesday, where prosecutors announced plans to seek the death penalty in a case that has gripped national attention.

Kirk, 31, a close ally of former President Donald Trump and founder of the student activist group Turning Point USA, was fatally shot last week while speaking at a university event in Utah. His death has sparked widespread grief among conservatives and stirred heated reactions across the political spectrum.

Prosecutors say 22-year-old Tyler Robinson fired a single shot from a rooftop, striking Kirk in the neck before thousands of onlookers. The attack triggered a massive manhunt that ended 33 hours later when Robinson’s parents convinced him to surrender after recognizing images of him released by authorities.

When Robinson appeared in court, he was dressed in a standard-issue suicide prevention smock often used in high-profile cases. He spoke briefly to confirm his identity and remained silent as District Judge Tony Graf read the seven charges against him, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced that he had filed a notice of intent to pursue the death penalty.
“I do not take this decision lightly,” Gray told reporters. “It is based solely on the evidence, circumstances, and nature of the crime.”

During the press conference, Gray revealed messages between Robinson and his roommate — described as a transgender individual with whom Robinson was romantically involved. In one note left under a keyboard, Robinson allegedly wrote: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”

In text exchanges after the shooting, Robinson reportedly told the roommate, “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.” He then instructed the roommate to delete the messages.

Kirk, a father of two, had built a large online following on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, using his platforms to advance conservative viewpoints and often criticizing transgender rights. Known for his combative style, he frequently shared edited clips of college campus debates that fueled his reputation as a polarizing figure.

The FBI has faced criticism for missteps immediately after the shooting, including mistakenly announcing the arrest of a suspect who was released just hours later. Meanwhile, one of two people initially detained in connection with the case was separately charged with possession of child pornography, a matter authorities say is unrelated to Kirk’s killing.

The White House responded on Monday by announcing plans to address what it described as a left-wing “domestic terror movement,” sparking concerns that such measures could be used to suppress political opposition.