Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, has retained legal counsel and stopped cooperating with investigators, according to CNN.
A source told the outlet Robinson initially spoke with law enforcement but has since gone silent, though it is unclear what he said earlier. He is currently being held without bail at the Utah County Jail under an order from state Judge Shawn Rice Howell.
Robinson is expected to face charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice, according to a probable-cause affidavit obtained by NBC News. Court records show Robinson, who was arrested Thursday night, has no prior misdemeanor or felony convictions.
Kirk, 31, was killed Wednesday while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at a press conference that the state has three days to formally file charges and that investigators believe Robinson acted alone.
President Donald Trump has called for the death penalty in the case, which Utah law permits for aggravated murder convictions.
Mug shots of Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Charlie Kirk's assassination, have been released. pic.twitter.com/sInDYFSHG2
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) September 12, 2025
The firearm recovered in the assassination of Kirk was a Mauser bolt-action rifle — a standard hunting weapon known for its reliability but limited to one shot before requiring manual reloading.
Unlike a semiautomatic, the shooter must work the bolt by hand: lifting and pulling it back ejects the spent cartridge, while pushing it forward chambers a new round. Locking the bolt readies the rifle to fire again — a straightforward, durable design long favored by hunters and target shooters.
“This process limits the rate of fire, you can only take one shot at a time,” explained retired Marine Lt. Col. Hal Kempfer to Fox News.
