In a shocking incident at Utah Valley University, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson is accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, during a campus event, Fox News reported.
The case centers on Robinson allegedly shooting Kirk from a rooftop on Wednesday, leading to potential charges that could carry the death penalty as prosecutors prepare to unveil formal accusations this week.
The tragic event unfolded on Wednesday when Robinson, hailing from southern Utah, reportedly climbed onto a rooftop at Utah Valley University in Orem during an event hosted by Turning Point USA and the university’s campus chapter.
From a distance of about 200 yards, Robinson is accused of firing the fatal shot that killed Kirk, who was 31 years old and a father of two.
After the shooting, Robinson allegedly fled the scene, escaping into a nearby neighborhood before making his way back to his home in Washington, Utah.
He was later apprehended and is currently being held without bail at the Utah County Jail, awaiting formal charges.
Prosecutors are set to file official charges against Robinson this week, potentially as early as Tuesday or as late as Friday, depending on the time needed to finalize the documentation.
The charges, as detailed in the affidavit, include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice, with the aggravated murder charge being pivotal for a possible death penalty pursuit.
Under Utah law, the death penalty requires proof of an aggravating factor, such as creating a grave risk to bystanders, which prosecutors may argue applies due to the shot being fired into a crowd from a significant distance.
"At the end of the day, it's an allegation; it's not like the entire case hinges upon that," said Joshua Ritter, a California defense attorney and Fox News contributor, in an interview with Fox News Digital.
"If the jury finds that allegation to be true, then it’s game on. They would have to make the argument to the jury, there was a crowd of people around him, he's shooting from 200 yards away...and that that could have put others in danger."
Ritter added, "Which, to me, that’s a fairly easy argument to make."
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has repeatedly advocated for the death penalty in this case, a stance echoed by former President Donald Trump, who last week expressed hope that Robinson, if convicted, would face capital punishment.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray, while cautious about specifics, affirmed in a statement over the weekend, "Given the very early stages of this investigation, and the fact that the investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment on the specific charges that we will file. However, we do anticipate that those charges will likely be consistent with the preliminary charges that supported Mr. Robinson’s booking into jail."
Gray also emphasized, "We will be thorough and deliberate at every stage of this case."
