Charlie Kirk’s accused killer appeared in court for the first time today since Kirk’s violent death last week in Utah.
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist credited with energising the Republican youth movement and helping Donald Trump win the election last year, died while speaking at a college outside of Salt Lake City, Utah.
22-year-old Tyler Robinson is facing a capital murder charge, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
Investigators have been piecing together evidence, including a rifle and ammunition engraved with anti-fascist and meme culture messaging, found after the shooting.
The most serious charge Robinson is facing is aggravated murder. Once charges are filed, Robinson is scheduled to appear on camera for a virtual court hearing.
He has been held without bail since his arrest, and it remained unclear whether he has a lawyer. He appeared in court through video link today.
While authorities say Robinson has not been cooperating with investigators, they do say his family and friends have been talking.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said over the weekend that those who know Robinson say his politics shifted left in recent years and he spent a lot of time in the ‘dark corners of the internet’.
FBI director Kash Patel said on Monday on the Fox News Channel show Fox & Friends that DNA evidence has linked Robinson to a towel wrapped around a rifle found near the Utah Valley campus and a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired.
Before the shooting, Robinson wrote in a note that he had an opportunity to take out Kirk and was going to do it, according to Patel.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said Robinson had planned the shooting for around a week, and wrote a note to his roommate reading: ‘I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.’
After reading the note, the roommate texted Robinson to see if he was joking, to which he replied: ‘I am still OK, my love. … Shouldn’t be long till I can get home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest, I had hoped to keep this secret until I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.’
He was asked why he did it, and told his roommate: ‘I had enough of his hate. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.’
Investigators are working on finding a motive for the attack, Utah’s governor said on Sunday, adding that more information may come out once Robinson appears for his initial court hearing.
Cox said Robinson’s romantic partner was transgender, which some politicians have pointed to as a sign the suspect was targeting Kirk for his anti-transgender views. But authorities have not said whether that played a role.
Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said on Monday that Robinson’s partner has been cooperative. He said investigators believe Robinson acted alone during the shooting, but they also are looking at whether anyone knew of his plans beforehand.
In the days since Mr Kirk’s killing, Americans have found themselves facing questions about rising political violence.
Despite calls for greater civility, some who opposed Mr Kirk’s provocative statements about gender, race and politics criticised him after his death.
Many Republicans have led the push to punish anyone they believe dishonoured him, causing both public and private workers to lose their jobs or face other consequences at work.
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