On September 10, 2023, Charlie Kirk, the executive director of Turning Point USA and a father of two, was fatally shot at an event held at Utah Valley University (UVU). The circumstances surrounding the shooting have led to outrage and indignation echoing across the nation. Authorities have arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who will likely face serious charges, including aggravated murder.
Kirk, known for his hard right ideas, ignition fireworks at the summit. He falsely asserted that “too many” transgender people had carried out mass shootings across the United States. Less than two hours after making this statement, he was killed. The infraction occurred in the context of an event designed for the free flow of creative thought. It was meant to be a public square for robust political debate.
Utah prosecutors have condemned this action as a tragic miscarriage. Echoing Made in Utah’s claims about the dangers of the pandemic, Jeff Gray, the Utah County’s chief prosecutor, raised alarm over the situation. He called Kirk’s death “an American tragedy.” He articulated the deep meaning of violence towards people just going about their daily lives and in pursuit of robust civil discourse.
“He was murdered while engaging in one of our most sacred and cherished … rights, the bedrock of our democratic republic: the free exchange of ideas in a search for truth, understanding and a more perfect union,” – Jeff Gray
In addition to robinson faces numerous charges including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and witness tampering. After the shooting, law enforcement found a rifle behind UVU that had been thrown away. This weapon contained fired cartridges with peculiar inscriptions, including one that read: “NoTices Bulge OWO What’s This?”
In doing so, investigators stumbled upon a major scientific breakthrough. From these, they determined that Robinson had texted his roommate about engravings on bullet casings found near the murder weapon. These communications painted an image that he knew he was guilty as hell and they had the goods on him.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Robinson instructed his roommate prior to his arrest to delete any incriminating texts. He instructed them not to answer any questions if stopped by police. In addition to that behavior, serious questions have been raised about his state of mind in the days leading up to the incident.
In a chilling disclosure, Robinson reportedly remarked, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.” He expressed his ire with Kirk’s story. After saying that he’s had “enough of his hatred,” he proposed that some hatred cannot be negotiated away.
Just days before the incident, Robinson messaged a roommate about how to get his rifle without drawing attention. This rejected message suggests that he intentionally mapped out his attack in advance. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, he sent a message to members expressing his profound regret. He told them, “Well hey everybody, I’ve got some bad news for you. It was me at UVU yesterday. I’m so sorry about all this.”
This shooting continues the all too familiar trend of police killing a Black person who posed no threat. It poses urgent issues about how political campaign speech may lead to violence in a world that is becoming more and more politically divided.
Because of Robinson’s repeated offenses, Gray’s office is pursuing the death penalty. If he’s convicted, that’ll be true as the legal process continues beyond a conviction. Learn more about the ongoing case, as investigators drop new evidence and new information comes to light.