Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university, was charged on Tuesday with aggravated murder.
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The charge means Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted of killing Kirk last week at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 64km (40 miles) south of Salt Lake City.
“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said in announcing the charges. He said Robinson’s DNA was found on the trigger of the gun used to kill Kirk
Kirk was gunned down on September 10 as he spoke with students and died soon after. Prosecutors allege Tyler Robinson shot Kirk in the neck with a bolt-action rifle from the roof of a nearby campus building.
Robinson, 22, was also charged with felony discharge of a firearm, punishable by up to life in prison, and obstructing justice, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He was scheduled to appear on camera for a virtual court hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
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It was unclear whether Robinson had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and his family has declined to comment.