Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Officials Announce Charges Against Kirk Shooting Suspect; Tyler Robinson Charged With Aggravated Murder and Other Charges. Aired 2- 2:30p ET

Aired September 16, 2025 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[14:00:00]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": CNN's Ed Lavandera is live for us at the news conference in Provo, Utah. Ed, what do you expect to hear?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are expecting the County Attorney, Jeff Gray to appear here shortly, any second now, actually. And I'm told that he will be flanked by the team of prosecutors who will be leading the case against 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. And just before these prosecutors come out, we are expecting the charging documents to officially be posted and this will be the official criminal charges.

As of now, Robinson has been held on preliminary charges, including aggravated murder. And then in a few hours, Boris, Robinson is expected to make his first initial court appearance, that is supposed to happen at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time. And that is when he will be presented with these formal criminal charges as well as going through the process of getting an attorney.

He will not appear in court. This will be a virtual appearance, the jail where he's being held and has been held since he was arrested last Thursday night, is several miles away from the courthouse and he will appeal virtually just as all of the other prosecutors as well. But right now, Boris, we await and see these, the official documents and whether or not these documents will contain additional information into what the investigation has been able to uncover since the shooting and killing of Charlie Kirk last Wednesday here in Utah. Boris?

SANCHEZ: Ed Lavandera live for us in Provo. Thank you so much. We are covering this from every angle. With us now, CNN Anchor and Chief Legal Analyst, Laura Coates. And Laura, as we await this briefing, what details are you most looking forward to learning about?

LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF LEGAL ANALYST: I want to know which is going to come first, whether it would be a federal case or a state level charge. I suspect state level hearing from the state prosecutors in this instance, but still that dynamic between whether the federal government wants to get involved or as a backstop or initially will be very important. Also, I want to know if there are going to be -- what level of murder charges will be made, especially if there's anything with respect to terrorism related instances and beyond.

But most importantly, I want to know how extensive they're going to get into the details for the probable cause finding of keeping him held. What I mean by that is they don't have to tell you much. This is not beyond a reasonable doubt at this junction. This is probable cause an indictment finding, which means they have to have enough to hold this person, have to have enough to say, this person probably caused the crime that they're alleging. And they could do a speaking indictment where they go into great detail about all the things they want the public to know.

There are some risks with that, of course, one being the jury pool. Some could argue in the defense side that the greater information you give has both a sword and a shield. On the one hand, it means that the jury population knows a lot more and is better prepped for a trial. On the other hand, it could mean if the prosecution cannot meet every single one of the things they claim in public, you've got a jury who now expects a whole lot more information.

On the other hand, they could give a very sort of muted indictment that gives you the bare bones. Here are the charges; here's just enough for the court. Given how high profile this case has become, whether it's the FBI director personally being at crime scenes or giving press conferences, let alone the governor being involved in it, they're likely to give a much more fulsome report than they normally would.

In any event, though, I'm looking to find out just how complex this case really is, what information they want to give to the public and what is the highest level charge. They still have several weeks ahead to they have to actually say the death penalty or not. But depending on the charge they put in there, we may know instantly today whether they intend to seek it.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Laura, that's the interesting thing, as you mentioned, there was so much pressure to deliver.

COATES: Yes.

KEILAR: And we've already seen that impacting how officials -- but I think to a different degree, whether they're county or they're state or they're federal, what they are disclosing.

COATES: Yeah.

KEILAR: There's been a lot more information out there than usual.

COATES: Yeah. So you even heard yesterday from the FBI director about he challenged the world to find a more transparent FBI director. Now, it's odd about that because normally the FBI director is not very transparent at the infancy of an investigation. Why? Because they know about the complexities we hear from him right now though.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in the process of not only filing the documents, but also printing them so that you have hard copy. Since it's so close to the news conference, we want to print as many as we can. And we're also going to be posting it when it is filed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: They're dispensing right now with some logistics. So we are monitoring that in the control room, and we will continue to do that and we'll bring this conference -- this news conference to you as soon as they start bringing in some new information. But yeah, there's been a lot of -- it's transparency. But like you say, there is a legal interest in being less than transparent initially.

COATES: You know, I always, when I prosecuted, thought about the law and order effect, which was juries come in and think that everything is wrapped up in 48 minutes with commercial breaks, right? There's always DNA; there's always video. There's this full-blown confession. There's the walk down the steps by Sam Waterston at the end of the episode. And in reality, it's much more complex.

And even a case that seems to be open and shut, if there's a confession that will be put forth and beyond, you're still going to have motions to suppress evidence. You're still going to have the challenges to whether those confessions come in.

[14:05:00]

You're going to have challenges to what could be hearsay. Of course, what the defendant says is a distinct category that doesn't fall into the hearsay. But, the idea of thinking about what the jury expects. Now why you want to be cautious about that and that sort of law and order effect is because you don't want to overpromise and under deliver. You want to give enough information to meet your burden of proof, but it's got to be beyond a reasonable doubt. And when you do that, you have to be, on the one hand, very forthcoming, but also cautious about the pace in which information comes out.

This man was gunned down last week. There are still digital evidence to go through. There are conversations to have, I would assume, with people who knew him quite well. Chat channels and other things that might be there. He is, as far as we know, still not speaking. He doesn't have to speak. It's his right to remain silent. It's the government's burden to prove his guilt, not his to prove his innocence.

So we are really in the infancy, albeit so much pressure and focus for understandable reasons. This has been a terrifying and sobering moment for America and law enforcements communities around the country have been trying to react to it and be proactive. And so, there's a lot riding on an investigation like this. But for that reason, a defense counsel who is worth their weight in gold is going to challenge all of those things and suggest that the infancy of the investigation and the expediency of it is maybe triggered by something different than the case and the evidence at hand. They're going to want to try to show that there are plausible defenses. They're going to want to try to suggest that statements he made outside of a courtroom or outside of an actual under oath statement are not going to be admitted, depending upon who we spoke to or when. So you have a lot going on, but think about it, this case is high profile for a reason. You've got the death penalty on the line. You've got the federal government invested in this. You've got discussions surrounding political violence that in a year where we've had so much already, people are still wondering what would be next or happen (ph) to this person. So a lot of attention, which means a lot of prudence.

SANCHEZ: No doubt. We should let our viewers know that the press briefing has been delayed by about 10 minutes. As we were hearing there in the room, the logistics that have to be sorted out in part, actually filing these documents. We do also want to let you know that we are going to pour through them as they come in to bring you the latest information.

Let's bring in the rest of our panel here. CNN Washington Bureau Chief David Chalian is with us, as well as former FBI Deputy Director and CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst, Andrew McCabe. Tim Wininger is with us as well. He's a University of Notre Dame Professor who researches social media and violence. Thank you all for being with us.

David, to Laura's point about politics being involved in this investigation, do you think that anything that might come out at this press conference would change the view from both sides that are entrenched in their argument over political violence and, and what took place last week?

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF & POLITICAL DIRECTOR: I don't know if it'll change. I think it has the potential to turbocharge some of this political rhetoric, depending on what we hear, obviously, from investigators. But you could imagine, if indeed in this press conference, we learn a little bit about -- more about what investigators believe they have put together in terms of motive, a little bit more on evidence that was found or their assessed meaning behind certain things that they found, you could instantly imagine that some of this very hot vitriolic rhetoric that has surrounded this since this awful assassination, it just gets turbocharged into a much more difficult political moment to navigate.

KEILAR: Yeah, no doubt. Everyone stand by if you would. We are looking at the room there in Provo, Utah, where we are awaiting this news conference, and we are going to bring this to you as soon as it gets started. We're going to have a quick break here. We'll be right back with more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:11: 27]

KEILAR: All right, let's go to this press conference in Provo, Utah, where officials are detailing the charges against Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the murder of Charlie Kirk. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We appreciate your being here. Jeff will enumerate the charges and detail what the county's findings are up to this point, and then he'll take questions. The number of questions may be limited, however. I may cut it off. I may assist him in helping depict the people who are asking the question. We just ask that you keep the questions to the process of what we're talking about and refrain from asking questions that speculate or get into the political dynamic of the case.

For Utah County, this is a murder case. We're trying a murder case. We're trying to keep the questions to that, but I understand that you're under pressure and have a lot of different questions and we'll try to answer them. We're joined today by our sheriff and our prosecution team and our county commissioners. Jeff is going to be the only one speaking right now, and I'll introduce right now, County Attorney Jeff Gray.

JEFF GRAY, UTAH COUNTY ATTORNEY: The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy. Charlie Kirk was murdered while engaging in one of our most sacred and cherished American rights, the bedrock of our democratic republic, the free exchange of ideas in a search for truth, understanding, and a more perfect union. It is also an offense against the state and to the peace and enjoyment of the people of Utah and of all those who visit here.

But Charlie Kirk's murder also strikes a more personal and intimate cord. Charlie Kirk was first and foremost a husband and a father to two beautiful young children. He was a son, he was a brother and a friend. Like all murders, the senseless and needless taking of Charlie Kirk's life has shattered the lives of those he loved and those who loved him. To Charlie's wife, Erika, his two young children, his parents, his family, and his friends, I express my sincere condolences and offer my heartfelt prayers on your behalf.

I also want to express my concern for everyone who was at Charlie's Turning Point USA event at the university, Utah Valley University, and all who have been impacted by this tragedy. As county attorney, I am charged with bringing justice to those who offend our laws. I am charged with bringing justice for those who harm -- for those who are harmed. I am charged with bringing justice for Charlie Kirk. I am committed to these aims. I take this responsibility seriously.

Today, after reviewing the evidence that law enforcement has collected thus far, I am filing a criminal information charging Tyler James Robinson, age 22, with the following crimes.

[14:15:00]

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.

Count two, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, a first degree felony. The state is further alleging aggravating factors on counts one and two because the defendant is believed to have targeted Charlie Kirk based on Charlie Kirk's political expression and did so knowing that children were present and would witness the homicide.

The state is also charging the defendant with count three, obstruction of justice, a second degree felony for moving and concealing the rifle used in the shooting.

Count four, obstruction of justice, a third degree -- a second degree felony for disposing the clothing he wore during the shooting.

Count five, witness tampering, a third degree felony for directing his roommate to delete his incriminating texts.

Count six, witness tampering, a third degree felony for directing his roommate to stay silent if police questioned him.

And count seven, commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child, a Class A misdemeanor for committing homicide knowing that children were present and may have seen or heard the murder, and did so based on Charlie Kirk's political expression.

Also, following the press conference, I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. 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. Because we are seeking the death penalty, the defendant will continue to be held without bail in the Utah County Jail.

Turning to the 10-page information, these are the allegations. On September 10th, 2025 at approximately 12:23 p.m., Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking to a large crowd on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Police found the suspected murder weapon, a bolt-action 36 rifle nearby. Over the next approximately 33 hours, police conducted a manhunt for the shooter until the evening of September 11th, 2025 when Tyler James Robinson surrendered to police at the Washington County Sheriff's office.

DNA consistent with Robinson was found on the rifle's trigger. After shooting Mr. Kirk, Robinson hid, guarded the clothing he wore when he fired the rifle and told his roommate to delete incriminating text messages and not talk to police. Children were present at the time of the shooting.

The shooting: Turning Point USA, a non-profit organization founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk, organized a public outdoor event to be held at noon on September 10th, 2025 at UVU. The event was the first in a series of similar events to be held at college campuses nationwide. Mr. Kirk is a well-known conservative activist, famous for these type of events where he discusses various political issues and debates with audience members.

His events and comments have garnered a significant number of supporters and drawn the ire of many who disagree with his political views. The event at UVU was announced far in advance and garnered significant publicity and interest. Consequently, several hundred people attended. Mr. Kirk was interacting with a crowd before the event officially got underway. Then at approximately noon, Mr. Kirk seated himself under a portable canopy behind a table and microphone. [14:20:00]

He began speaking to the crowd and filled in questions from attendees, a format Mr. Kirk commonly used at his events. Mr. Kirk allowed his questionnaires to approach a microphone position directly in front of him. Mr. Kirk's team members were very close to him on his right and left, as well as some behind his canopy and others at various close locations near him. The large crowd surrounded Mr. Kirk on three sides. Temporary metal fencing separated attendees from Mr. Kirk by only a matter of feet. Directly above and behind. Mr. Kirk was the UVU Hall of Flags, an indoor walkway spanning several hundred feet with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, which overlooked the plaza where Mr. Kirk was seated.

People were in the walkway at the time of the shooting. Approximately 15 minutes into the event, Mr. Kirk was answering a question about mass shootings by transgender individuals, when a gunshot rang out. The bullet struck Mr. Kirk in the neck. He slumped to the ground almost immediately. The bullet's trajectory passed closely to several other individuals beside Mr. Kirk, including the questioner who was standing directly in front of Mr. Kirk. Children were visible near Mr. Kirk's stage when he was shot.

Mr. Kirk was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared deceased. The medical examiner's report is still pending.

So UVU surveillance: So at the moment of the shot, a UVU police officer was watching the crowd from an elevated vantage point. As soon as he heard the shot, he began to scan the area for threats. Believing the shot came from a rifle because of its sound, he looked for potential sniper positions. He noted a roof area, approximately 160 yards away from Mr. Kirk as a potential shooting position and rushed there to look for evidence.

The suspected shooting position is adjacent to an open, publicly accessible walkway. To access the suspected location, a person must climb over a railing and then drop to the roof only slightly below. The UVU officer climbed over the railing and down onto the roof. He then walked to the suspected shooting position and confirmed a clear shooting corridor between the position and Mr. Kirk's seat.

He also noticed markings in the gravel rooftop consistent with a sniper having lain on the roof, impressions in the gravel potentially left by the elbows, knees, and feet of a person in a prone shooting position.

Police reviewed surveillance from the camera covering the roof and discovered that it recorded an individual dressed in dark clothing, crossed the railing from the public walkway and drop onto the roof at approximately 12:15 p.m. Although the individual moved out of the camera's view for a short time, the camera again captured the individual running across the roof and then low crawling to the area the UVU officer recognized as where the suspected sniper had dropped into a prone shooting position.

After a short time, which matches the known time of the shot, the individual arose and ran across the roof to the northeast. This discovery led to an intensive review of UVU surveillance recordings to track and identify the suspect. Surveillance revealed the following: At approximately 11:51 a.m., the suspect entered campus from the north. He is seen wearing a black shirt with an American flag in the center, a dark baseball cap, and large sunglasses. Throughout the surveillance, the suspect keeps his head down and rarely raises his head enough to get a clear image of his face.

As he proceeds across the campus, he is seen walking with an unusual gait. The suspect walks with very little bending in his right leg, consistent with a rifle being hidden in his pants. This unusual gait continues until the suspect is seen crossing the railway off the open walkway and onto the roof where he leaves the camera's view.

[14:25:00]

A camera later captures the suspect as he runs across the roof to the suspected shooting position. Immediately after the shot was fired, a camera captures the suspect running across the roof, carrying an item whose shape is consistent with a rifle. The suspect is then seen climbing down from the roof. He appears to drop the item he was carrying as he hits the ground in a controlled fall. He then picks up the item and runs toward the northeast end of campus.

Expanded crime scene investigation: Law enforcement officers followed the suspect's escape path to the northeast end of campus where they believed the suspect left campus and entered a wooded area. In that wooded area, investigators found a bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel. The rifle contained one spent round and three unspent rounds. This is consistent with the facts officers observed at the time of and immediately after the shootings. No shell casings were found on the roof, suggesting a bolt-action rather than an auto-loading weapon, and only a single round was fired. Each round in the rifle contained an etched inscription as follows: The fired cartridge was etched, "Notices bulge OwO what's this?".

The second cartridge that was again, not spent. The last three were not spent, were not fired. The second " Hey fascist! Catch!" with arrow symbols. The third cartridge, "Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao." The fourth cartridge, "If you read this, you are gay. LMAO." The rifle, ammunition rounds, and towel were sent for forensic processing. DNA consistent with Robin -- with defendant was found on the trigger, other parts of the rifle, the fired cartridge casing, two of the three unfired cartridges and the towel.

Law enforcement was unable to immediately locate the shooter, so they published photos of the shooter from the UVU surveillance cameras and asked for the public's help to identify him. Meanwhile, law enforcement continued to try to identify the shooter through other means.

The Washington County investigation: On the evening of September 11th, 2025, as law enforcement continued their investigation, Tyler James Robinson went to the Washington County Sheriff's Office with his parents and a family friend to turn himself in. Robinson's mother stated the following to police. On September 11th, 2025, the day after the shooting, Robinson's mother saw the photo of the shooter in the news and thought the shooter looked like her son. Robinson's mother called her son and asked him where he was. He said he was at home sick and that he had also been at home sick on September 10th.

Robinson's mother expressed concern to her husband that the suspect shooter looked like Robinson. Robinson's father agreed. Robinson's mother explained that over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political and had started to lean more to the left, becoming more pro-gay and trans rights oriented. She stated that Robinson began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders. This resulted in several discussions with family members, but especially between Robinson and his father who have very different political views.

In one conversation before the shooting, Robinson mentioned that Charlie Kirk would be holding an event at UVU, which Robinson said was a stupid venue for the event. Robinson accused Kirk of spreading hate. Robinson's father reported that when his wife showed him the surveillance image of the suspected shooter in the news, he agreed that it looked like their son. He also believed that the rifle that police suspected the shooter used matched a rifle that was given to his son as a gift. --