1
00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:08,479
Speaker 1: Crime Stores with Nancy Grace. Tayler Robinson went before a

2
00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,399
Speaker 1: judge today for his first court hearing. Crime Story's Dave

3
00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:17,239
Speaker 1: Mack reads the charging document, State of Utah, Plaintiff versus

4
00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,600
Speaker 1: Tyler James Robinson eight ninety four West Samaran Drive, Washington,

5
00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,440
Speaker 1: Utah eight four seven eight zero, date of birth four sixteen,

6
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:30,280
Speaker 1: two thousand and three. The State of Utah, by and

7
00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,760
Speaker 1: through the Utah County Attorney's Office, charges the defendant with

8
00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:38,280
Speaker 1: the commission of the following offenses. Count one aggravated murder,

9
00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:42,319
Speaker 1: a capital felony, and violation of Utah Code annotated in

10
00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,400
Speaker 1: that on September tenth, twenty twenty five, in Utah County,

11
00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,839
Speaker 1: the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, intentionally or knowingly caused the

12
00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:54,240
Speaker 1: death of Charlie Kirk under the following circumstances. The defendant

13
00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,240
Speaker 1: knowingly created a great risk of death to another individual

14
00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,320
Speaker 1: other than Charlie Kirk, and the defendant. Conviction of this

15
00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,440
Speaker 1: offense may carry the death penalty or pursue it to

16
00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,440
Speaker 1: Utah Code seven to six dish three dish to zero

17
00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,280
Speaker 1: seven point seven, a mandatory term of imprisonment for life

18
00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:15,080
Speaker 1: without parole, or an indeterminate term of not less than

19
00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:19,360
Speaker 1: twenty five years, and that may be for life. Victim

20
00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,240
Speaker 1: targeting enhancement in violation of Utah Code annotated seven to

21
00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,880
Speaker 1: six dish three desh two zero three dot fourteen Tyler

22
00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,400
Speaker 1: James Robinson intentionally selected Charlie Kirk because of Tyler James

23
00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:36,479
Speaker 1: Robinson's belief or perception regarding Charlie Kirk's political expression. Notice.

24
00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:40,120
Speaker 1: If the trier of fact finds beyond reasonable doubt that

25
00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,080
Speaker 1: the victim targeting enhancement applies, the sentencing judge or the

26
00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,600
Speaker 1: Board of Pardons in Parole shall consider the defendant selection

27
00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,720
Speaker 1: of the victim as an aggravating factor. Violent offense committed

28
00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,400
Speaker 1: in the presence of a child aggravating factor. The sentencing

29
00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,520
Speaker 1: judge or the Board of pardon in Parol shall consider

30
00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,720
Speaker 1: as an aggravating factor in their deliberations that the defendant

31
00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,880
Speaker 1: committed a violent criminal offense in the presence of a child.

32
00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,520
Speaker 1: Count two felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily

33
00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,839
Speaker 1: injury a first degree felony in violation of Utah Code

34
00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,200
Speaker 1: annotated seven to six Dash one to one dish two

35
00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:19,000
Speaker 1: one zero and three c in that on September tenth,

36
00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:24,160
Speaker 1: twenty twenty five, in Utah County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson,

37
00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,960
Speaker 1: discharged a firearm in the direction of Charlie Kirk, knowing

38
00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,320
Speaker 1: or having reason to believe that Charlie Kirk may be

39
00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,000
Speaker 1: endangered by the discharge of the firearm and the caused

40
00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:39,840
Speaker 1: serious bodily injury to Charlie Kirk. Victim targeting enhancement in

41
00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,680
Speaker 1: violation of Utah Code annotated seven to six DASH three

42
00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:45,919
Speaker 1: Dish two zero three point one four. Tyler James Robinson

43
00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,080
Speaker 1: intentionally selected Charlie Kirk because of Tyler James Robinson's belief

44
00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,760
Speaker 1: or perception regarding Charlie Kirk's political expression. Notice. If the

45
00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,120
Speaker 1: trier of fact finds beyond reasonable doubt that the victim

46
00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:01,880
Speaker 1: targeting enhancement applies, inenden judge or the Board of Pardons

47
00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,320
Speaker 1: in Parole shall consider the defendant selection of the victim

48
00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:09,640
Speaker 1: as an aggravating factor. Violent offense committed in the presence

49
00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,240
Speaker 1: of a child aggravating factor. The sentencing judge or the

50
00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,519
Speaker 1: boarden of Pardons in Parole shall consider as an aggravating

51
00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,959
Speaker 1: factor in their deliberations that the defendant committed a violent

52
00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,320
Speaker 1: criminal offense in the presence of a child. Count three

53
00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,880
Speaker 1: obstruction of justice a second degree felony in violation of

54
00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,560
Speaker 1: Utah Code annotated seven to six Dash eight Dash three

55
00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,680
Speaker 1: zero six, and that on September ten, twenty twenty five,

56
00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,280
Speaker 1: in Utah A County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, would

57
00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:41,240
Speaker 1: intend to hinder, delay, or prevent the investigation, apprehension, prosecution, conviction,

58
00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:45,640
Speaker 1: or punishment of any person regarding conduct that constitutes criminal offense.

59
00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:50,240
Speaker 1: See concealed or remove the firearm used to shoot Charlie Kirk,

60
00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,800
Speaker 1: and the conduct that constitutes an offense would be a

61
00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:58,040
Speaker 1: capital felony or first degree felony. Count four obstruction of

62
00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:01,800
Speaker 1: justice a second degree felony violation of Utah Code annotated

63
00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,680
Speaker 1: seven to six Dash eight DASH three zero six. In

64
00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,400
Speaker 1: that honor about September eleven, twenty twenty five, in Utah County,

65
00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,800
Speaker 1: the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, would intent to hinder, delay,

66
00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:18,279
Speaker 1: or prevent the investigation, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of

67
00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:24,200
Speaker 1: any person regarding conduct that constitutes a criminal offense. See destroyed, concealed,

68
00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,520
Speaker 1: or removed the clothing he wore during the shooting, and

69
00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,600
Speaker 1: the conduct that constitutes an offense would be a capital

70
00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:36,000
Speaker 1: felony or first degree felony. Count five Tampering with a

71
00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,240
Speaker 1: witness a third degree felony in violation of Utah Code

72
00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:41,719
Speaker 1: annotated seven to six DASH eight DASH five zero eight.

73
00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,080
Speaker 1: In that honor, about September ten, twenty twenty five, in

74
00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:49,560
Speaker 1: Utah County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, believed that an

75
00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:54,080
Speaker 1: official proceeding or investigation was pending or about to be instituted,

76
00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:58,279
Speaker 1: or intended to prevent an official preceding or investigation, and

77
00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:03,880
Speaker 1: attempted to induce or otherwise cause his roommate to withhold testimony, information,

78
00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,359
Speaker 1: a document, or an item, to wit directing his roommate

79
00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:12,039
Speaker 1: to delete incriminating text messages. Count six Tampering with a

80
00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,000
Speaker 1: witness a third degree felony in violation of Utah Code

81
00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,040
Speaker 1: annotated seven to six eight DASH five zero eight, and

82
00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,560
Speaker 1: that honor, About September eleven, twenty twenty five, in Utah County,

83
00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,800
Speaker 1: the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, believed that an official preceding

84
00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,400
Speaker 1: or investigation was pending or about to be instituted, or

85
00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:34,000
Speaker 1: intended to prevent an official preceding or investigation, and attempted

86
00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,640
Speaker 1: to induce or otherwise cause his roommate to withhold testimony

87
00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:41,239
Speaker 1: or information, to wit directing his roommate to stay silent

88
00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:46,799
Speaker 1: if police questioned his the roommate. Count seven violent offense

89
00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,080
Speaker 1: committed in the presence of a child a Class A

90
00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,200
Speaker 1: misdemeanor in violation of Utah Code annotated seven six dash

91
00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,080
Speaker 1: three dash to zero three point one zero and seven

92
00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:57,680
Speaker 1: six dash three dish two zero three point one four

93
00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,240
Speaker 1: In that honor about September ten, twenty twenty five, in

94
00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:05,120
Speaker 1: Utah County, the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, committed criminal homicide

95
00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,560
Speaker 1: in the physical presence of a child younger than fourteen

96
00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,720
Speaker 1: years old, with knowledge that a child was present and

97
00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,760
Speaker 1: may have seen or heard the commission of the criminal

98
00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:19,120
Speaker 1: homicide victim targeting enhancement in violation of Utah Code annotated

99
00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,279
Speaker 1: seven to six dash three dash to zero three point

100
00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:26,359
Speaker 1: one four. Tyler James Robinson intentionally selected Charlie Kirk because

101
00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,400
Speaker 1: of James Tyler Robinson's belief or perception regarding Charlie Kirk's

102
00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:35,599
Speaker 1: political expression. Probable cause statement Brian Davis of the Utah

103
00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,280
Speaker 1: State Bureau of Investigation having probable cause to believe that

104
00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:43,359
Speaker 1: the defendant committed the above listed defense submitted the following

105
00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:48,159
Speaker 1: evidence in supported the filing of this information. On September tenth,

106
00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,920
Speaker 1: twenty twenty five, at approximately twelve twenty three pm, Charlie

107
00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,680
Speaker 1: Kirk was shot and killed while speaking to a large

108
00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,160
Speaker 1: crowd on the campus of Utah Valley University and or

109
00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:03,599
Speaker 1: on Utah two. Police found the suspected murder weapon, a

110
00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,120
Speaker 1: Bold Action thirty odd six rifle, nearby. Over the next

111
00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,640
Speaker 1: approximately thirty three hours, police conducted a man hunt for

112
00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,920
Speaker 1: the shooter until the evening of September eleventh, twenty twenty five,

113
00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,480
Speaker 1: when Tyler James Robinson surrendered to police at the Washington

114
00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:22,040
Speaker 1: County Sheriff's Office. DNA consistent with Robinson was found on

115
00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:26,480
Speaker 1: the rifle's trigger. After shooting mister Kirk, Robinson hid the gun,

116
00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:29,760
Speaker 1: discarded the clothing he wore when he fired the rifle,

117
00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:34,440
Speaker 1: and told his lover Slash roommate, to delete incriminating text

118
00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,560
Speaker 1: messages and not to talk to police. Children were present

119
00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:43,120
Speaker 1: at the time of the shooting. The shooting, Turning Point USA,

120
00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,720
Speaker 1: a nonprofit organization founded in twenty twelve by Charlie Kirk,

121
00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,640
Speaker 1: organized a public outdoor event to be held at noon

122
00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:53,560
Speaker 1: on September tenth, twenty twenty five, at UVU. The event

123
00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:55,800
Speaker 1: was the first in a series of similar events to

124
00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,280
Speaker 1: be held at college campuses nationwide. Mister Kirk is a

125
00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:02,280
Speaker 1: well known con serve of activist, famous for these types

126
00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,720
Speaker 1: of events where he discusses various political issues and debates

127
00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,240
Speaker 1: with audience members. His events and comments have garnered a

128
00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,440
Speaker 1: significant number of supporters and drawn the ire of many

129
00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,520
Speaker 1: who disagree with his political views. The event at UVU

130
00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:21,880
Speaker 1: was announced far in advance and garnered significant publicity and interest. Consequently,

131
00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:26,240
Speaker 1: several hundred people attended. Mister Kirk was interacting with the

132
00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:30,200
Speaker 1: crowd before the event officially got under way. Then, approximately

133
00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:33,360
Speaker 1: at noon, mister Kirk seated himself under a portable canopy

134
00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,840
Speaker 1: behind a table and microphone. He began speaking to the

135
00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,560
Speaker 1: crowd and fielding questions from attendees, a format mister Kirk

136
00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:44,319
Speaker 1: commonly used at his events. Mister Kirk allowed his questioners

137
00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,120
Speaker 1: to approach a microphone position directly in front of him.

138
00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,280
Speaker 1: Mister Kirk's team members were very close to him on

139
00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,400
Speaker 1: his right and left, as well as some behind his canopy,

140
00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:57,120
Speaker 1: and others at various close locations near him. The large

141
00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:01,640
Speaker 1: crowd surrounded mister Kirk on three sides. Metal fencing separated

142
00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,559
Speaker 1: attendees from mister Kirk by only a matter of feet.

143
00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:08,480
Speaker 1: Directly above and behind mister Kirk was the UVU haul

144
00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:12,040
Speaker 1: of Flags, an indoor walkway spanning several hundred feet with

145
00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:15,240
Speaker 1: Florida ceiling glass windows, which overlooked the plaza where mister

146
00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,800
Speaker 1: Kirk was seated. People were in the walkway at the

147
00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,040
Speaker 1: time of the shooting. Approximately fifteen minutes into the event,

148
00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,240
Speaker 1: mister Kirk was answering a question about mass shootings by

149
00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:28,520
Speaker 1: transgender individuals when a gunshot rang out. The bullet struck

150
00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,040
Speaker 1: mister Kirk in the neck. He slumped to the ground

151
00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:35,320
Speaker 1: almost immediately. The bullet's trajectory passed closely to several other

152
00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:39,560
Speaker 1: individuals beside mister Kirk, including the questioner who was standing

153
00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,880
Speaker 1: directly in front of mister Kirk. Children were visible near

154
00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,880
Speaker 1: mister Kirk's stage when he was shot. Mister Kirk was

155
00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,840
Speaker 1: rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared to ceased.

156
00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:54,679
Speaker 1: The medical examiner's report is pending. The UVU surveillance investigation.

157
00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,640
Speaker 1: At the moment of the shot. A UVU police officer

158
00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:02,520
Speaker 1: was watching the crowd from an elevated vantage point. As

159
00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,000
Speaker 1: soon as he heard the shot, he began to scan

160
00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,000
Speaker 1: the area for threats. Believing the shot came from a

161
00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,760
Speaker 1: rifle because of its sound, he looked for potential sniper positions.

162
00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,839
Speaker 1: He noted a roof area approximately one hundred and sixty

163
00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,800
Speaker 1: yards away from mister Kirk as a potential shooting position

164
00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:22,040
Speaker 1: and rushed there to look for evidence. The suspected shooting

165
00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:26,400
Speaker 1: position is adjacent to an open, publicly accessible walkway. To

166
00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:30,120
Speaker 1: access the suspected location, a person must climb over a

167
00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,280
Speaker 1: railing and then drop to the roof only slightly below

168
00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:36,760
Speaker 1: The UVU officer climbed over the railing and down onto

169
00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:40,000
Speaker 1: the roof. He then walked to the suspected shooting position

170
00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:43,880
Speaker 1: and confirmed a clear shooting corridor between the position and

171
00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,520
Speaker 1: mister Kirk's seat. He also noticed markings in the gravel

172
00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,959
Speaker 1: rooftop consistent with a sniper having lain on the roof,

173
00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,440
Speaker 1: impressions in the gravel potentially left by the elbows, knees,

174
00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,200
Speaker 1: and feet of a person in a prone shooting position.

175
00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,880
Speaker 1: Police reviewed surveillance from the camera covering the roof and

176
00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,520
Speaker 1: discovered that it recorded an individual dressed in dark clothing,

177
00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:09,360
Speaker 1: crossed the railing from the public walkway and dropped onto

178
00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,880
Speaker 1: the roof at approximately twelve to fifteen PM. Although the

179
00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,480
Speaker 1: individual moved out of the camera's view for a short time,

180
00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,680
Speaker 1: the camera again captured the individual running across the roof

181
00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:25,000
Speaker 1: and then low crawling to the area the UVU officer

182
00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:28,800
Speaker 1: recognized as where the suspected sniper had dropped into a

183
00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:33,120
Speaker 1: prone shooting position. After a short time, which matches the

184
00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:37,400
Speaker 1: known time of the shot, the individual arose and ran

185
00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:41,400
Speaker 1: across the roof to the northeast. The discovery led to

186
00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:45,280
Speaker 1: an intensive review of uvu A surveillance recordings to attempt

187
00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:49,160
Speaker 1: to track and identify the suspect. Surveillance revealed the following

188
00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:54,080
Speaker 1: At approximately eleven fifty one am, the suspect entered campus

189
00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,760
Speaker 1: from the north. He is seen wearing a black shirt

190
00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,760
Speaker 1: with an American flag in its center, a dark baseball cap,

191
00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,920
Speaker 1: and large sunglasses. Throughout the surveillance, the suspect keeps his

192
00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,000
Speaker 1: head down and rarely raises his head enough to get

193
00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:10,720
Speaker 1: a clear image of his face. As he proceeds across campus.

194
00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,439
Speaker 1: He is seen walking with an unusual gate. The suspect

195
00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:18,600
Speaker 1: walks with very little bending in his right leg, consistent

196
00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,800
Speaker 1: with a rifle being hidden in his pants. This unusual

197
00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,920
Speaker 1: gate continues until the suspect is seen crossing the railing,

198
00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,120
Speaker 1: off the open walkway and onto the roof, where he

199
00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:34,920
Speaker 1: leaves the camera's view. A camera later captures the suspect

200
00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,600
Speaker 1: as he runs across the roof to the suspected shooting position.

201
00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:42,920
Speaker 1: Immediately after the shot was fired, A camera captures the

202
00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,680
Speaker 1: suspect running across the roof carrying an item whose shape

203
00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,199
Speaker 1: is consistent with a rifle. The suspect is then seen

204
00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,760
Speaker 1: climbing down from the roof. He appears to drop the

205
00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,480
Speaker 1: item he was carrying as he hits the ground in

206
00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,880
Speaker 1: a controlled fall. He then picks up the item and

207
00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,840
Speaker 1: runs toward the northeast end of the campus. Expanded crime

208
00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:08,960
Speaker 1: scene investigation law enforcement officers followed the suspect's escape paths

209
00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,240
Speaker 1: to the northeast end of the campus, where they believed

210
00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,800
Speaker 1: the suspect left campus and entered a wooded area. In

211
00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:19,760
Speaker 1: that wooded area, investigators found a bolt action rifle wrapped

212
00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,280
Speaker 1: in a towel. The rifle contained one spent round and

213
00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:27,720
Speaker 1: three unspent rounds. This is consistent with the fax officers

214
00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,960
Speaker 1: observed at the time of and immediately after the shooting.

215
00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,679
Speaker 1: No shellcasings were found on the roof, suggesting a bolt

216
00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,440
Speaker 1: action rather than an auto loading weapon, and only a

217
00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:42,520
Speaker 1: single round was fired. Each round in the rifle contained

218
00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:50,200
Speaker 1: an etched inscription as follows. Fired cartridge No Tye's bulge.

219
00:13:50,600 --> 00:14:00,520
Speaker 1: O wo what's this? Second cartridge? Hey? Fascist? Catch? Third cartridge?

220
00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:07,640
Speaker 1: Oh bella chow bella chow bella chow chow chow. Fourth cartridge.

221
00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:14,840
Speaker 1: If you read this, you are gay LMAO. The rifle, ammunition, rounds,

222
00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:19,440
Speaker 1: and towels were sent for forensic processing. DNA consistent with

223
00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,760
Speaker 1: Robinson's was found on the trigger, other parts of the rifle,

224
00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:26,840
Speaker 1: the fired cartridge, casing, two of the three unfired cartridges,

225
00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,840
Speaker 1: and the towel. Law enforcement was unable to immediately locate

226
00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:33,720
Speaker 1: the shooter, so they published photos of the shooter from

227
00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,960
Speaker 1: the UVU surveillance cameras and asked for the public's help

228
00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,960
Speaker 1: to identify him. Meanwhile, law enforcement continued to try to

229
00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:46,240
Speaker 1: identify the shooter through other means. The Washington County investigation

230
00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,600
Speaker 1: on the evening of September eleven, twenty twenty five, as

231
00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:54,120
Speaker 1: law enforcement continued their investigation, Tyler James Robinson went to

232
00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,920
Speaker 1: the Washington County Sheriff's office with his parents and a

233
00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:01,720
Speaker 1: family friend to turn himself. Inson's mother stated the following

234
00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,160
Speaker 1: to police. On September eleven, twenty twenty five, the day

235
00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,280
Speaker 1: after the shooting, Robinson's mother saw the photo of the

236
00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,000
Speaker 1: shooter in the news and thought the shooter looked like

237
00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:14,480
Speaker 1: her son. Robinson's mother called her son and asked him

238
00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:16,840
Speaker 1: where he was. He said he was at home sick,

239
00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,400
Speaker 1: and that he had also been at home sick on

240
00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:23,760
Speaker 1: September tenth. Robinson's mother expressed concern to her husband that

241
00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:29,560
Speaker 1: the suspected shooter looked like Robinson. Robinson's father agreed. Robinson's

242
00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,560
Speaker 1: mother explained that over the last year or so, Robinson

243
00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,640
Speaker 1: had become more political and had started to lean more

244
00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:39,720
Speaker 1: to the left, becoming more pro gay and trans rights oriented.

245
00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:43,200
Speaker 1: She stated that Robinson began to date his roommate, a

246
00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:47,800
Speaker 1: biological male who was transitioning genders. This resulted in several

247
00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,640
Speaker 1: discussions with family members, but especially between Robinson and his father,

248
00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:56,080
Speaker 1: who have very different political views. In one conversation before

249
00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:59,520
Speaker 1: the shooting, Robinson mentioned that Charlie Kirk would be holding

250
00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:03,280
Speaker 1: an event UVU, which Robinson said was a quote stupid

251
00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:07,480
Speaker 1: venue for the event. Robinson accused Kirk of spreading hate.

252
00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,720
Speaker 1: Robinson's father reported that when his wife showed him the

253
00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:14,720
Speaker 1: surveillance image of the suspected shooter in the news, he

254
00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,720
Speaker 1: agreed that it looked like their son. He also believed

255
00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:21,200
Speaker 1: that the rifle that police suspected the shooter used matched

256
00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,480
Speaker 1: a rifle that was given to his son as a gift.

257
00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,520
Speaker 1: As a result, Robinson's father contacted his son and asked

258
00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,560
Speaker 1: him to send a photo of the rifle. Robinson did

259
00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,880
Speaker 1: not respond. However, Robinson's father spoke on the phone with Robinson.

260
00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,040
Speaker 1: Robinson implied that he planned to take his own life.

261
00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,360
Speaker 1: Robinson's parents were able to convince him to meet at

262
00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:45,320
Speaker 1: their home. As they discussed the situation, Robinson implied that

263
00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:47,920
Speaker 1: he was the shooter and stated that he couldn't go

264
00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,520
Speaker 1: to jail and just wanted to end it. When asked

265
00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:54,080
Speaker 1: why he did it, Robinson explained, there is too much

266
00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,720
Speaker 1: evil and the guy Charlie Kirk spreads too much hate.

267
00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,480
Speaker 1: They talked about Robinson turning himself and convinced Robinson to

268
00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,240
Speaker 1: speak with a family friend who was a retired deputy sheriff.

269
00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:08,160
Speaker 1: At robinson father's request, the family friend met with Robinson

270
00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,200
Speaker 1: and his parents and convinced Robinson to turn himself in.

271
00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:15,159
Speaker 1: The family friend spoke to police and reported telling Robinson

272
00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,080
Speaker 1: that it would be best if he brought all evidence

273
00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,800
Speaker 1: with him to the sheriff's office to avoid police having

274
00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:24,000
Speaker 1: to search his parents home. The family friend also asked

275
00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:26,800
Speaker 1: Robinson if he had any clothes that were related to

276
00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:29,960
Speaker 1: what he did. Robinson replied that he had disposed of

277
00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:35,640
Speaker 1: his clothes in different areas. The roommate. Police interviewed Robinson's roommate,

278
00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:39,160
Speaker 1: a biological male who was involved in a romantic relationship

279
00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:43,640
Speaker 1: with Robinson. The roommate told police that the roommate received

280
00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:47,240
Speaker 1: messages from Robinson about the shooting and provided those messages

281
00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:51,000
Speaker 1: to police. On September ten, twenty twenty five, the roommate

282
00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,399
Speaker 1: received a text message from Robinson which said, drop what

283
00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:58,400
Speaker 1: you're doing, look under my keyboard. The roommate looked under

284
00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:02,000
Speaker 1: the keyboard and found a note This stated quote, I

285
00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:05,040
Speaker 1: had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm

286
00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,800
Speaker 1: going to take it unquote. Police found a photograph of

287
00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:14,600
Speaker 1: this note. The following text exchange then took place. After

288
00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:18,320
Speaker 1: reading the note, the roommate responded to quote, what question mark?

289
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:23,640
Speaker 1: You're joking, right, Robinson? I am still okay, my love,

290
00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,800
Speaker 1: but am stuck in orum for a little while longer

291
00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,919
Speaker 1: yet shouldn't be long until I can come home. But

292
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,720
Speaker 1: I got to grab my rifle still. To be honest,

293
00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,119
Speaker 1: I had hoped to keep this secret till I died

294
00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:41,680
Speaker 1: of old age. I'm sorry to involve you. The roommate writes,

295
00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:47,120
Speaker 1: you weren't the one who did it, right, Robinson, I am.

296
00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:53,879
Speaker 1: I'm sorry, roommate. I thought they caught the person, Robinson. Nope,

297
00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,600
Speaker 1: they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in

298
00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,600
Speaker 1: similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from

299
00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,440
Speaker 1: my drop point shortly after, but most of that side

300
00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,879
Speaker 1: of town got logged down. It's quiet, almost enough to

301
00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:11,560
Speaker 1: get out, but there's one vehicle lingering. Roommate, Why Robinson?

302
00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:16,800
Speaker 1: Why did I do it? Roommate? Yeah, Robinson, I had

303
00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:20,600
Speaker 1: enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out

304
00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,920
Speaker 1: if I'm able to grab my rifle unseen, I will

305
00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:27,200
Speaker 1: have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again.

306
00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,480
Speaker 1: Hopefully they've moved on. I haven't seen anything about them

307
00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:34,760
Speaker 1: finding it. Roommate, how long have you been planning this, Robinson?

308
00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,840
Speaker 1: A bit over a week. I believe I can get

309
00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:40,400
Speaker 1: close to it, but there's a squad car park right

310
00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:42,760
Speaker 1: by it. I think they already swept that spot, but

311
00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:47,080
Speaker 1: I don't want to chance it, Robinson. I'm wishing I

312
00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:49,399
Speaker 1: had to circle back and grabbed it as soon as

313
00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,080
Speaker 1: I got to my vehicle. I'm worried what my old

314
00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:55,040
Speaker 1: man would do if I didn't bring back Grandpa's rifle.

315
00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,200
Speaker 1: If it had a serial number, but it wouldn't trace

316
00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,240
Speaker 1: to me. I worry about Prince. I had to leave

317
00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:05,159
Speaker 1: it in a bush where I changed outfits, didn't have

318
00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,200
Speaker 1: the ability or time to bring it with. I might

319
00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,959
Speaker 1: have to abandon it and hope they don't find Prince.

320
00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,359
Speaker 1: How the blank will I explain losing it to my

321
00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,800
Speaker 1: old man? The only thing I left was the rifle

322
00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:22,240
Speaker 1: wrapped in a towel. Remember how I was engraving bullets.

323
00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,639
Speaker 1: The blanking messages are mostly a big meme. If I

324
00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:31,720
Speaker 1: see quote notices bulge Uwu unquote on Fox News. I

325
00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,560
Speaker 1: might have a stroke. All right, I'm going to have

326
00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:39,600
Speaker 1: to leave it. That really effing sucks. Judging from today,

327
00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:44,000
Speaker 1: I'd say Grandpa's gun does just fine. I DK I

328
00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:49,240
Speaker 1: think that was a two thousand dollars scope. Robinson writes,

329
00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:54,840
Speaker 1: delete this exchange. Robinson again rights. My dad wants photos

330
00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:57,760
Speaker 1: of the rifle, he says, Grandpa wants to know who

331
00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:00,720
Speaker 1: has what. The Feds released a photo of the rifle

332
00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:06,359
Speaker 1: and it is very unique. He's calling me, not answering, Robinson.

333
00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:10,480
Speaker 1: Since Trump got into office, my dad has been pretty diehard.

334
00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:16,040
Speaker 1: Maga Robinson. I'm going to turn myself in willingly. One

335
00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:21,520
Speaker 1: of my neighbors here is a deputy or for the sheriff. Robinson.

336
00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:27,160
Speaker 1: You are all I worry about, love roommate. I'm much

337
00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:32,159
Speaker 1: more worried about you, Robinson. Don't talk to the media. Please,

338
00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:36,440
Speaker 1: don't take any interviews or make any comments. If any

339
00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:40,159
Speaker 1: police ask you questions, ask for a lawyer, and stay silent.

340
00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:46,560
Speaker 1: The search of Robinson's residence, police executed a search warrant

341
00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:50,840
Speaker 1: on Robinson's residence. During that search, police discovered a shellcasing

342
00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,240
Speaker 1: with etchings like the etchings found on the shells and

343
00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:57,399
Speaker 1: the rifle near Uvu. Police also found several targets with

344
00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:02,560
Speaker 1: bullet holes in Robinson's home. One aggravated murder pertains to

345
00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:05,320
Speaker 1: Robinson's shooting and killing of Charlie Kirk in a manner

346
00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:07,919
Speaker 1: that exposed others, in addition to mister Kirk to a

347
00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:11,879
Speaker 1: great risk of death. Count two felony discharge of a

348
00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,879
Speaker 1: firearm pertains to Robinson's shooting toward mister Kirk knowing that

349
00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,800
Speaker 1: doing so would endangered those in the bullet's path. The

350
00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,480
Speaker 1: shot caused serious bodily injury to mister Kirk, ultimately resulting

351
00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:27,320
Speaker 1: in his death. Count three Obstructing Justice pertains to Robinson's

352
00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:29,960
Speaker 1: removal and hiding of the rifle he used to shoot

353
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:35,120
Speaker 1: mister Kirk. Count four Obstructing justice pertains to Robinson's removal

354
00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,520
Speaker 1: and hiding of the clothing he wore when he shot

355
00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:42,480
Speaker 1: mister Kirk. Count five Witness tampering pertains to Robinson's statements

356
00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,760
Speaker 1: to his roommate telling his roommate to delete their text

357
00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:50,600
Speaker 1: exchange that followed the shooting. Count six Witness tampering pertains

358
00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,960
Speaker 1: to Robinson's statement to his roommate telling the roommate quote,

359
00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:57,320
Speaker 1: if any police ask you questions, ask for a lawyer,

360
00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:03,480
Speaker 1: and stay silent. Unquote. Count seven Violence Offense committed in

361
00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:06,080
Speaker 1: the presence of a child pertains to robinsons shooting of

362
00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,640
Speaker 1: mister Kirk, and the presence of children under the age

363
00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:12,640
Speaker 1: of fourteen who are visible at the event. Based upon

364
00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:16,040
Speaker 1: evidence received from Brian Davis of the Utah State Bureau

365
00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,440
Speaker 1: of Investigation, I have reason to believe the defendant committed

366
00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:24,080
Speaker 1: the offenses charged herein. Authorized for presentment and filing. On

367
00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:29,639
Speaker 1: September sixteenth, twenty twenty five, Utah County Attorney's Office sworn

368
00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:38,360
Speaker 1: to buy Jeffrey S. Gray, Utah County Attorney