Prosecutors formally indicted the suspect accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, a U.S. right-wing youth activist known as a close confidant of President Donald Trump, on charges including aggravated murder. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty.
According to the Associated Press and others on the 16th (local time), Utah County Prosecutor Jeff Gray indicted the suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, on charges including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice.
Gray said DNA matching Robinson's was found on the trigger of the gun used to kill Kirk, adding, "Charlie Kirk's killing is a tragedy for America."
According to CNN, Robinson told a roommate believed to be a romantic partner in text messages that he killed Kirk. When the roommate asked about the motive, Robinson said, "I'm sick of his hatred," and added, "Some hatred can't be solved with conversation," according to reports.
Kirk, who had represented hard-line conservatives, had taken uncompromising positions on issues such as guns and abortion. He said, "Sadly, the human toll from guns every year is a price worth paying," and at an anti-abortion debate, he repeatedly said, "Take responsibility for your own orgasm," expressing the view that abortion should never be allowed under any circumstances.
In particular, because Robinson is known to have been in a romantic relationship with a transgender roommate transitioning from male to female, some have suggested that Kirk's hard-line remarks may have provoked Robinson.
Kash Patel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director, testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that all members of the group chat on Discord, an online gaming messenger that Robinson used, are under investigation, and that the number is far more than 20.