Prosecutors on Tuesday released excerpts of text messages between the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination and his roommate that they say detail the suspect’s confession and plans to get rid of the evidence.
Tyler Robinson was charged Tuesday with felony aggravated murder as well as six other crimes in connection with Kirk’s killing last week, Jeff Gray, the Utah County attorney, said. Communications from Robinson to his roommate, who prosecutors said was in a romantic relationship with Robinson, was part of the evidence in bringing those charges, Gray said.
Robinson, 22, of Utah, is set to appear in court later Tuesday. It is not clear if he has an attorney.
The charging document does not include timestamps on the purported messages between Robinson and his roommate. Prosecutors said that Robinson texted his roommate at some point Wednesday to look under his keyboard.
The roommate found a note that said, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” according to the charging document. The roommate then asked Robinson if he was joking.
“To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age,” Robinson allegedly wrote. “I am sorry to involve you.”
Robinson’s roommate expressed confusion, noting that authorities said they had a person in custody. Robinson allegedly responded by saying that officials had some “crazy old dude” and interrogated someone in similar clothing, according to messages in the document.
“I had planned to grab my rifle from the drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down,” Robinson allegedly wrote.
When asked why he did it, Robinson allegedly wrote, “I had enough of his hatred.”
He went on to say that if he could grab his rifle unseen, then he would have left no evidence, according to the document. Robinson allegedly said he hoped authorities had moved on and he’d attempt to retrieve it again.
Officials found a Mauser Model 98 bolt-action in a wooded area near Utah Valley University, where Kirk was hosting an event when he was killed last week.
Robinson told the roommate that he had been planning the attack for a bit over a week, officials allege.
“I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpa’s rifle … idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me,” Robinson allegedly texted. “I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits.”
He then addressed the engravings on the bullets, referring to them as a “big meme,” according to the document. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox previously said that inscriptions were found on at least four bullets discovered in connection with Kirk’s assassination.
One engraving read, “Hey fascist! Catch! ↑ → ↓↓↓,” a seeming reference, at least in part, to a video game that’s been interpreted as a satire of fascism.
Officials said that later messages show Robinson urging his roommate to delete their text exchange and writing that his father wanted 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,” Robinson allegedly wrote.
The messages included in the charging document also show Robinson ignoring his father’s calls. He wrote that ever since President Donald Trump was elected, his father “has been pretty diehard maga,” the document said.
“I’m gonna turn myself in willing, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff,” Robinson allegedly wrote. “You’re all I worry about love.”
He asked the roommate not to speak to the media and if contacted by police, “ask for a lawyer and stay silent,” the document said.
Cox said that the roommate had been “very cooperative” with investigators.
“What we have learned specifically is that this person did not have any knowledge, was shocked when they found out about it,” Cox said Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
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