The suspect in the murder of prominent US conservative political activist Charlie Kirk has been formally charged with his murder, prosecutors in Utah have announced.
Kirk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, was shot dead last week during a speaking event on a Utah university campus. He was the founder of the influential conservative youth political group Turning Point USA.
Authorities said 22-year-old Tyler Robinson used a rifle to shoot Kirk with a single bullet to the neck from a rooftop. He was arrested after a 33-hour manhunt.
"After reviewing the evidence that law enforcement has collected thus far, I am...charging Tyler James Robinson, age 22 with the following crimes," Utah County attorney Jeff Gray told a press conference.
"Count one, aggravated murder, a capital offense, for intentionally or knowingly causing the death of Charlie Kirk under circumstances that created a great risk of death to others."
Six other charges include obstruction of justice and witness tampering, allegedly for ordering his roommate to stay silent.
Seeking death penalty
Robinson confessed to his roommate in a series of messages after the incident, according to charging documents filed today.
Robinson’s roommate asked why he did it, according to the CNN. "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out," Robinson replied, as per the documents.
Utah County attorney said he is filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty for Robinson.
"I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently as county attorney based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime," Gray added.
Kirk, a father of two, used his audiences on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to build support for conservative talking points.
FBI Director Kash Patel has been criticised for his actions in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, including having quickly announced the arrest of a separate suspect, only to confirm they had been released two hours later.
Patel faced a grilling from a Senate panel on Tuesday that included some very bad-tempered exchanges with Democratic Senator Corey Booker.
Patel has come under fire from both the right and the left since being named by Trump to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the nation's premier law enforcement agency.
On Monday, the White House said it would be pursuing a "domestic terror movement" in the wake of Kirk's killing.
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Source: TRT