Tyler Robinson, who is charged with murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk, allegedly admitted to the shooting in a series of text messages to his transgender boyfriend after the attack, court records show.
Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead in the neck by a single shot from a rifle while giving a speech at Utah Valley University last week.
Robinson, who is 22, was detained one day after the shooting and had his first court appearance in Utah after he was charged with murder. The case has attracted much attention from President Donald Trump and his supporters, who have emphasized what they see as rising political violence against conservatives.
Although authorities would not reveal a clear motive, court documents state that Robinson texted his roommate regarding Kirk, "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out."
Officials confirmed that Robinson was dating the unnamed roommate, a transgender woman.
Court filings report that Robinson confessed to plotting the murder for a week and wrote a handwritten note describing his plans. He also allegedly stashed a note for his girlfriend under a keyboard stating, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it."
Partner: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: no, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres one vehicle lingering.
Partner: Why?
Robinson: Why did I do it?
Partner: Yeah
Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out.
Robinson: If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven't seen anything about them finding it.
Partner: How long have you been planning this?
Robinson: a bit over a week I believe. I can get close to it but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don't wanna chance it
Robinson: I'm wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle... I'm worried what my old man would do if I didn't bring back grandpas rifle ... idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn't trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits. didn't have the ability or time to bring it with... I might have to abandon it and hope they don't find prints. how the [expletive] will I explain losing it to my old man...only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel...remember how I was engraving bullets? The [expletive] messages are mostly a big meme, if I see "notices bulge uwu" on fox new I might have a stroke alright im gonna have to leave it, that really [expletive] sucks... judging from today I'd say grandpas gun does just fine idk. I think that was a $2k scope;-;
Robinson: delete this exchange
Robinson: my dad wants photos of the rifle ... he says grandpa wants to know who has what, the feds released a photo of the rifle, and it is very unique. He's calling me rn, not answering.
Robinson: since trump got into office [my dad] has been pretty diehard maga.
Robinson: Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff.
Robinson: you are all I worry about love
Partner: I'm much more worried about you
Robinson: don't talk to the media please. don't take any interviews or make any comments. ... if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent.
The police subsequently executed a search warrant at Robinson's residence, as per court documents. Upon the search, officials found a shell casing with etchings akin to the ones discovered on the rifle shells and a few targets with bullet holes within Robinson's home.
Authorities stated Robinson has not cooperated with authorities, although his friends and family members have. Robinson's mother informed authorities that her son had become more politically progressive during the last year and became an advocate for gay and transgender rights after he began dating a transgender partner.
It was Robinson's relatives who urged him to sit down with a family acquaintance, a former sheriff's deputy, who urged him to turn himself in, prosecutors explained to the Associated Press.
Robinson was arrested late Thursday in the southern Utah town of St. George, where he was raised, about 240 miles (390 kilometers) southwest of the shooting scene. He is charged with a felony count of discharge of a weapon, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years.
In addition, Robinson was accused of witness tampering for directing his partner to destroy text messages and be quiet if asked questions by police.
FBI Director Kash Patel explained on Tuesday that investigators are probing "anyone and everyone" who is linked to a gaming Discord chatroom used by Robinson that had "a lot more" than 20 participants, at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington.
"We are looking at Charlie's murder in full and entirety and exhausting every lead pertaining to any charge of violence on a large scale," Patel said, regarding whether the Kirk shooting is being investigated as a larger pattern of violence against religious communities.
The charges filed Tuesday also include two enhancements: committing some of the crimes in front of or close to children, and committing violence based on the victim's political beliefs.
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