College students at Utah Valley College are returning to campus on Wednesday, one week after conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was killed whereas holding an outside occasion on the college.
Hope Ledkins, a first-year pupil at Utah Valley College, advised ABC Information returning to class is a “very unhappy, very somber feeling.”
“This does not occur in Orem, Utah,” Ledkins stated. “To have one thing like this occur, individuals simply really feel actually blended up about it.”
Individuals gaze down on the web site the place Charlie Kirk was shot, above which hangs an American flag, at Utah Valley College, Sept. 15, 2025, in Orem, Utah.
Jesse Bedayn/AP
As college students return to campus, regulation enforcement continues to research Tyler Robinson, 22, who’s accused of assassinating Kirk on the college on Sept. 10.
Robinson was formally charged with aggravated homicide on Tuesday, with prosecutors asserting the intent to hunt the dying penalty. He was additionally charged with felony discharge of a firearm inflicting critical bodily damage, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and fee of a violent offense within the presence of a kid, Utah County Legal professional Jeff Grey introduced.
Robinson made a brief first court docket look on Tuesday.
Alleged Charlie Kirk shooter Tyler Robinson make his first court docket look in Utah.
State of Utah/District Court docket
Prosecutors on Tuesday provided extra perception into the killing and Robinson’s alleged discussions with household and his roommate within the wake of the capturing.
After his father acknowledged Robinson in images launched by authorities, the suspect met along with his mother and father and “implied that he was the shooter and said that he could not go to jail and simply wished to finish it,” the charging paperwork stated.
His mother and father then requested their son why he dedicated this crime, to which he stated “there’s an excessive amount of evil and the man [Charlie Kirk] spreads an excessive amount of hate,” in line with the charging paperwork.
Precisely what Robinson was allegedly referring to by “hate” was not clear. Investigators famous that Robinson’s mother advised them that her son allegedly started having a relationship along with his roommate, who’s transitioning, and had begun leaning to the left extra politically, changing into “extra pro-gay and trans-rights oriented,” however the doc doesn’t point out the relevance of these stances nor whether or not Kirk’s remarks about these points had been a motivating issue.
Grey stated he would let a decide decide whether or not the statements allegedly made by Robinson constituted a confession. On Tuesday, he declined to touch upon whether or not Robinson has been cooperating or spoken to investigators.
Prosecutors additionally revealed textual content messages between the suspect and his roommate.
Utah Legal professional Jeff Grey outlines formal costs in opposition to Tyler Robinson within the capturing dying of Charlie Kirk, September 16, 2025.
KTVX
On the day of the capturing, the roommate acquired a textual content message from the 22-year-old that stated, “drop what you’re doing, look underneath my keyboard,” charging paperwork stated.
The roommate discovered a observe beneath Robinson’s keyboard that stated, “I had the chance to take out Charlie Kirk and I will take it,” in line with charging paperwork.
Employees change grass within the Utah Valley College courtyard the place political activist Charlie Kirk was shot, on September 15, 2025 in Orem, Utah.
Chet Unusual/Getty Photographs
Prosecutors additionally revealed further conversations between the suspect and his roommate after the capturing.
“I had sufficient of his hatred. Some hate cannot be negotiated out,” one of many messages learn.
Robinson’s roommate requested how lengthy he had been planning this assault, to which he stated “a bit over per week I imagine,” in line with charging paperwork.
Individuals stroll across the web site the place conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley College final week, Sept. 17, 2025, in Orem, Utah.
Jesse Bedayn/AP
Because the suspect stays in custody with out bail, FBI Director Kash Patel stated a “variety of people” are presently being investigated who’re linked to the suspect’s Discord, a bunch chat messaging platform the place Robinson allegedly confessed he was the shooter two hours earlier than he was taken into custody.
“Hey guys, I’ve dangerous information for you all…It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this,” one of many messages learn.
Throughout a Senate Judiciary Committee listening to on Tuesday, Patel stated “much more” than 20 persons are linked to Robinson and that the FBI is wanting into “anybody and everybody concerned within the Discord chat.”
Robinson’s subsequent listening to is scheduled for Sept. 29.
ABC Information’ Jaclyn Lee contributed to this report.
