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Utah to seek death penalty for Tyler Robinson
Utah prosecutors said on Tuesday they will seek the death penalty for the suspect in conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination. LiveNOW's Christina Evans breaks down the details from the latest update with legal analyst Jeremy Rosenthal.
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during a campus speech earlier this month, finally has a defense attorney.
Kathryn Nester, a former federal public defender with more than 30 years of experience, is spearheading the defense, according to a Utah County spokesperson.
Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was facing a crowd at Utah Valley University as part of a national speaking tour when a sniper's bullet struck him in the neck in the campus courtyard.
In a news release on Wednesday, officials announced Robinson's attorney was approved by the Utah County Commission.
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Pres. Trump honors Charlie Kirk, speaks at memorial
President Donald Trump has called Charlie Kirk a "martyr for American freedom" during his remarks at the conservative commentator’s memorial service. "He's a great American hero, that's what he is," Trump said, adding that he believed that the Turning Point USA founder was a patriot. "America loved Charlie Kirk," the president said, adding that history will remember Kirk's legacy.
"This afternoon, the Utah County Commission unanimously approved a contract to appoint legal counsel for Tyler James Robinson, as required under Utah law and after the court determined he couldn’t afford private counsel," the spokesperson said. "This action fulfills the Commission’s constitutional responsibility to ensure that individuals accused of a crime—who cannot afford legal representation—are provided with a qualified defense."
Robinson is an electrician apprentice who recently drifted apart from his immediate family and became "more political" and supporting "more pro-gay and trans rights" over the past year, according to court documents.
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BREAKING: Charlie Kirk shot at Utah campus
Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator and organizer, was apparently shot at an event at Utah Valley University. He is currently hospitalized. The suspect is reportedly in custody.
In a text message to his roommate and trans romantic partner, he allegedly confessed to the crime and attempted to explain himself.
COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRK
"I had enough of his hatred," he wrote, referring to Kirk, according to court documents. "Some hate can’t be negotiated out."
Robinson faces charges including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty in Utah. As a result, his defense counsel and co-counsel are required under state law to be qualified to defend death penalty cases.
He may also face federal charges in separate proceedings.
Read more of this story from FOX News.