Alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson charged with murder; prosecutors to seek death penalty

Click here to follow the latest updates in the Charlie Kirk murder investigation.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom reflected on the loss of Charlie Kirk with podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen and urged people to resist fear and division in this moment of national grief.

“I started a podcast not too many months ago, and Charlie Kirk was my first guest,” Newsom said. 

“He was gracious enough, to not only say yes, he flew out to do it in person. And I spent not just the hour plus, in a very civil conversation with Charlie, I spent time with him after, and we stayed in touch, including my team. Stayed in touch pretty consistently.”

Newsom went on to acknowledge the political divide between himself and Kirk before urging people to show gestures of “civility, one of grace and one of humanity. Common humanity.”

“The fact is, we had that opportunity to engage,” he also told Tyler Cohen.

“It’s absolutely essential that we, in the spirit of this moment, hold ourselves to a higher level of civility and accountability—accountability to the moment we’re in and the consequences of giving in to cynicism and anxiety and fear,” he said.

The chief of the Cleveland Division of Fire was placed on paid administrative leave after sharing an "insensitive" and "incendiary" social media post in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, Mayor Justin Bibb announced Tuesday. 

The since-deleted Facebook post by Anthony P. Luke referred to Kirk and featured a cartoon showing elephants worshiping a golden rifle with one elephant declaring, "Bring out the next sacrifice!!" according to Fox 8 News.

The post reportedly appeared on Luke’s personal Facebook page after Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was tragically killed at a college campus event in Utah Sept. 10.

Bibb said the post "crossed the line."

"This post romanticizes gun violence, a matter far too serious in a city where we mourn too many families every week, too many lives cut short, and too many children denied safe sleep in their beds," Bibb wrote.

"I firmly believe in free speech, and the First Amendment protects every individual’s right to express opinions — even those that are unpopular, provocative, or difficult to hear. But with rights come responsibilities, especially for those who hold positions of public trust and leadership. A public safety leader is not just another citizen: they are a standard-bearer for what the City of Cleveland stands for, what we teach our children, and how our neighbors should expect to be treated — and protected.

"Chief Luke’s post crossed the line. It was insensitive, it was incendiary, and it did not reflect the values of compassion, unity, and safety that I strive to stand for—and that every public safety leader in this city should embody. Therefore, I am, effective immediately, placing Chief Luke on paid administrative leave pending an investigation," Bibb concluded.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Emma Bussey.

Turning Point USA’s Tyler Bowyer shared a post on X featuring what he said was the last video Charlie Kirk made with the organization.

“This is the last videos that we had Charlie record before he was taken from us…Today is National Voter Registration Day— honor Charlie and take just TWO minutes to update your registration or register a friend or family member.” the tweet read.

In the short clip, Charlie can be heard saying: "It's game time Arizona but you can’t make plays if you’re not on the team."

"We need our home team on the field," Kirk added before finishing with: "Bring home the win!"

A candlelight vigil at Desert Financial Arena on Arizona State University’s campus on Monday highlighted Charlie Kirk’s legacy, as the campus is just miles from Turning Point USA’s headquarters.

Volunteers sported "I am Charlie" T-shirts as many attendees wore red, including MAGA hats, to show their support for the slain conservative leader.

The speakers used the moment to channel the tragedy into activism and share the Christian faith, including many of his close friends and colleagues.

"2026 is going to be the Charlie Kirk election. 2028 will be the Kirk-Vance election," Tyler Bowyer, who runs Turning Point Action, said, as volunteers were registering voters at the events. Bowyer encouraged people to use the tragedy as an opportunity to get active in the conservative movement, specifically calling on people to register to vote.

Peter Gentala, President, Center for Arizona Policy, said it’s "personal" when a "great man dies," speaking highly of the influence Kirk had in the Grand Canyon State and the nation.

At times, the attendees chanted "Charlie" and "USA" during the vigil organized by Arizona State University’s College Republicans chapter and TPUSA.

"Act. Starting a Turning Point chapter, get involved in a Turning Point chapter, register to vote, register other people to vote, and share your faith with others," Troy Holderby, President of ASU College Republicans, told Fox News Digital.

"This is gonna be a game changer for our entire country. We’re gonna see substantial amounts of people coming to vote for our country, because Charlie Kirk cared about that," he said.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Cameron Arcand.

Turning Point USA has urged its supporters to focus on honoring the life and legacy of its late founder, Charlie Kirk.

An official statement was shared on X by Andrew Kolvet, Kirk’s friend and ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’ executive producer.

"For all those asking for comments following today's press conference, Turning Point is focused on celebrating and memorializing Charlie,” the statement read.

“We will have more to say in the future. Thank you to law enforcement at the local, state, and federal level and the prosecutors who continue to work to bring Charlie’s assassin to justice.Thank you to the millions of people worldwide who continue to pour out prayers, love, and support for the Kirk family,” the statement concluded. 

The suspect accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk appeared to confess to others in an online chat before surrendering to authorities, according to a report in the Washington Post. 

The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, wrote to friends on the online platform Discord, "Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. im [sic] sorry for all this."

A spokesperson for Discord confirmed to FOX Business that the reporting from the Post detailing Discord messages where suspected shooter Tyler Robinson appears to take responsibility for Charlie Kirk’s killing is accurate. 

According to the report, the message was sent on Thursday night, approximately two hours before officials took Robinson into custody. Discord provided authorities with a copy of the message with the confession, according to the report. 

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said Tyler Robinson is being charged with several counts, including aggravated murder. 

Gray highlighted ideological motives, with Robinson’s family and his own statements pointing to growing political radicalization. Robinson had voiced opposition to Kirk, accusing him of spreading hate, and left behind a note declaring his intent to kill Kirk. 

This is an excerpt from an article by FOX Business' Jay Caruso.

ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman is under fire for putting a spotlight on what he called the "very touching" text messages Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin sent to his transgender partner. 

After the news conference announcing the murder charges against 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, Gutman marveled at "such specific text messages" that were unearthed about the murder weapon.

"But, also, it was very touching in a way that many of us didn't expect," Gutman said. "A very intimate portrait into this relationship between the suspect’s roommate and the suspect himself, with him repeatedly calling his roommate, who is transitioning, calling him ‘my love.’ And ‘I want to protect you, my love.'

"So, it was this duality of someone who the attorney said not only jeopardized the life of Charlie Kirk and the crowd, but was doing it in front of children, which is one of the aggravating circumstances of this case. And then, on the other hand, he was, you know, speaking so lovingly about his partner. So a very interesting and … riveting press conference."

On ABC News' livestream platform, Gutman doubled down, calling it "heartbreaking on so many levels," linking Kirk's brutal murder to the "portrait of a very human person." 

"I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a press conference in which we’ve read text messages that are A, so fulsome, so robust, so apparently allegedly self-incriminating and yet, on the other hand, so touching, right?" Gutman said. 

"And the terminology he used, he was trying to protect him. He kept calling him ‘my love.’ ‘My reason for doing this is to protect you,’ you know, but also asking him to delete the messages and not speak to law enforcement. So, there’s this heartbreaking duality that we’re seeing very tragically playing out."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Joseph A. Wulfsohn.

A viral video posted on TikTok claims a Starbucks barista refused to write Charlie Kirk's name for an order.

Many fans have been paying tribute to Kirk by ordering his favorite drink at the coffee chain, a mint majesty tea with two honeys.

The TikToker recorded two videos, the first sharing that her husband went to order the drink at a Starbucks in Yucaipa, California, and the barista told him he had to "pick a different name" because they don't "honor politics here."

She then went to the same Starbucks herself to see what would happen, according to the video, and ordered the drink with Kirk's name.

When the barista asked for the name of the order, the user responded, "Charlie Kirk."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Ashley J. DiMella.

Turning Point USA, the organization started by Charlie Kirk to advocate for conservative causes, has received thousands of requests from supporters looking to get involved, the group said Tuesday.

"As of this afternoon, in the past 6 days, TPUSA has received 54,000+ requests from high school and college students nationwide to start a chapter or get involved with an existing chapter," the group posted on X.

"This is just the beginning," the post continued.

Following Kirk's assassination last week, Turning Point said it will continue his mission.

The former chief of staff to Charlie Kirk said his time with the conservative activist was "the best six years of my life."

Michael McCoy told " America's Newsroom" that Kirk convinced him to forgo college to work for Turing Point USA.

"He goes, 'don't want you to go to college,' so I took a day to think about it," McCoy said. "It was the best six years of my life that I spent under the tutelage of Charlie and learning from him."

"Charlie got me to 48 states and six countries," McCoy added, noting that when he met Kirk, he had only visited two states.

McCoy said Kirk was doing what he loved -- meeting with supporters and debating his critics -- when he was shot and killed on the campus of Utah Valley University.

"Charlie built Turning Point USA to help fight for the youth of America," he said. "His mission is staying alive. His work is going to continue, and the truth offends people."

The group is committed to growing the organization in Kirk's absence, McCoy said.

Two Florida congressional lawmakers are pushing to make Charlie Kirk birthday a national day of remembrance.

Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Jimmy Parsons, both Republicans, are backing a resolution to designate Oct. 14 as a National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.

Kirk would have been 32 on that date.

"“Charlie was a magnetic leader, a loving father and husband, and a friend and inspiration to so many," Scott said in a statement. "His loss is devastating, and I’ll always cherish the friendship I had with him. Charlie loved our nation and its founding principles and believed deeply in his faith, in his family, and in beauty of ideas and discussion."

Patronis, who is leading the push in the House, said Kirk's influence reached far beyond politics.

"He was a fearless defender of faith, freedom, and the principles that make America great, inspiring young people to lead with courage and conviction," he said. "On campuses nationwide, he showed that tough conversations could be met with respect and charisma."

he said a National Day of Remembrance will carry Kirk's legacy forward and inspire future generations to "speak boldly for freedom."

Utah Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Tony Graf on Tuesday granted a pre-trial protective order for Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk.

The requested was filed by Utah County prosecutors.

"I have reviewed the pretrial protective order and will be issuing this pretrial protective order in favor of Erika Kirk," the judge said.

The suspected assassin accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk appeared in a virtual court hearing on Tuesday where he was formally charged.

Tyler Robinson, 22, is charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

He didn't enter a plea. At one point, he leaned toward the camera and stated his name at the request of Utah Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Tony Graf.

Robinson appeared virtually on screen wearing a restrained garment. At first glance, he looked stoic and detached. During the reading of the charges, Robinson remained emotionless as the judge read every charge, including the mention of a possible death penalty.

He showed no visible reaction when the court referenced his alleged targeting of Kirk for his political ideology. Prosecutors on Tuesday said they would be seeking the death penalty.

Robinson's next court appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. local time on Sept. 29 and will remain in custody without bail.

Graf said a lawyer must be appointed to represent Robinson by that date.

The courtroom stayed quiet and subdued throughout the hearing. Six rows of benches lined the room -- two were completely filled, while the rest held small clusters of people. Just over 30 people were in attendance.

Some appeared to be members of the public. One was a mother and daughter who attended the Kirk’s event Wednesday and witnessed Kirk’s death for themselves. The two were shaken by what happened and what they had witnessed.

The two felt they had to attend Robinson’s first court appearance after what they had witnessed last Wednesday.

Students at a North Carolina university defaced a tribute honoring the life of Charlie Kirk, and, over the last couple of days, they have been harassing fellow students who have gathered at the site, prompting calls from students for the university to do more. 

As students gathered to honor Kirk at a candlelight vigil at the University of North Carolina Wilmington on Monday night, video obtained by Fox News Digital showed a female student harassing Kirk’s supporters and walking up to the large painted rock honoring Kirk and simulating flatulating onto it. 

"Can somebody get a lighter," the student said. Another student who appeared to be with her said, "Freedom of speech."

When a Kirk supporter said, "Jesus loves you," the second woman turned around and pointed to her sweatshirt, which appeared to depict satanic imagery. 

"Take a peek, who is that?" the woman with the sweatshirt said before walking away.

In another video, taken the next day, a student can be seen dumping paint onto the tribute, which was painted on a rock by Kirk’s supporters. 

This is an excerpt from a Fox News Digital article by Andrew Mark Miller.

After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, millions have gravitated to his social media presence. The spike has been especially pronounced on YouTube, where subscriber growth has translated into higher view counts and a jump in estimated earnings.

Kirk, long a dominant force on social media, has gained more than a million new YouTube subscribers in the past week, according to Social Blade metrics. The surge lifts his subscriber base to 5 million, up from 3.8 million before his death. His weekly video view count has also jumped sharply, rising by 94.1 million.

The YouTube audience for his organization, Turning Point USA (TPUSA), has also climbed to 3.9 million subscribers, up from 3.3 million. 

Estimated earnings from Kirk’s YouTube channel stand at $430,700, while Turning Point USA’s channel generated $945,700 and "The Charlie Kirk Show" clips channel added $1,974 – for a combined total of about $1.38 million.

This is an excerpt from a FOX Business article by Amanda Macias.

Tyler Robinson’s parents persuaded him to meet with a longtime family friend, a retired deputy sheriff who convinced him to surrender.

At his father’s request, the retired deputy joined the family and urged Robinson to turn himself in.

The deputy also advised Robinson that it would be best to bring evidence to the sheriff’s office, preventing police from having to search his parents’ home.

He also asked whether Robinson still had any clothing connected to the incident.

Robinson said he had already disposed of the items in separate locations.

Tyler Robinson appeared to criticized Charlie Kirk's choice to speak at Utah Valley University, prosecutors said.

Robinson was speaking with his father when he mentioned the event.

"In one conversation before the shooting, Robinson mentioned that Charlie Kirk would be holding an event at UVU, which Robinson said was a stupid venue for the event," Utah County District Attorney Gray told reporters.

The alleged gunman and his father had very different political views, Gray said.

Tyler Robinson's roommate, Lance Twiggs, a biological male that identified as transgender who was in a romantic relationship with Robinson, provided evidence including a series of text messages from Robinson on September 10, 2025.

Prosecutors say Twiggs received a text message from Robinson which said, “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.”

Twiggs looked under the keyboard and found a note that stated, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”

Police found a photograph of this note. Prosecutors say the following text exchange then took place: After reading the note, Twiggs responded, “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????”

Robinson: I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.

Roommate: you weren’t the one who did it right????

Robinson: I am, I’m sorry.

Roommate: 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.

Roommate: Why?

Robinson: Why did I do it?

Roommate: Yeah.

Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. 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.

Roommate: 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 f--k 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 f--kin 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 f--king 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. Hes 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.

Roommate: 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