Prosecutors say bullet engraving shows Charlie Kirk was targeted for his
politics
[August 19, 2026]
By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Prosecutors in Charlie Kirk 's killing pointed
Tuesday to an engraved bullet, arguing that the inscription “Hey Facist!
CATCH!” demonstrates that Kirk was targeted for how the defendant
perceived his politics.
Whether defendant Tyler Robinson acted out of political animus could be
key for prosecutors seeking the death penalty — or for his attorneys in
taking that punishment off the table.
The prosecution and defense have filed dueling documents focused on
whether the crime included aggravating factors that would make Robinson
eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Those include political
targeting and whether the shooting endangered thousands of others who
attended Kirk's Sept. 10 event at Utah Valley University.
Robinson is charged with crimes including aggravated murder and has not
yet entered a plea. The 23-year-old defendant turned himself in a day
after the shooting.
The latest batch of court documents follows a five-day preliminary
hearing in July, when prosecutors presented what they said was
“overwhelming” evidence against Robinson, while defense attorneys worked
to sow doubt about analysts’ findings.
Judge Tony Graf said he will decide if the case should advance to trial
after he hears again from both sides on Sept. 1.
In a document filed late Tuesday, prosecutors argued the engraved bullet
found in the suspected murder weapon was an “overt political reference."
They also noted that Robinson allegedly wrote in a text message about
Kirk: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out."
Robinson's attorneys have argued that the text message is not strong
enough evidence to prove a political motivation. They did not
immediately respond to a request for comment on prosecutors' new filing.
Before his death, Kirk and the organization he co-founded, Turning Point
USA, galvanized the conservative youth vote to help President Donald
Trump win a second term.
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Tyler Robinson, accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, appears
during a hearing in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, on June 12,
2026. (Francisco Kjolseth /The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)
Prosecutors contend that Kirk’s opposition to same-sex marriage and
gender-affirming care stood in sharp contrast to Robinson, who was
reportedly in a romantic relationship with his roommate, Lance
Twiggs. Twiggs told investigators he had considered a gender
transition around the time of Kirk's killing, according to
prosecutors.
A handwritten note that prosecutors allege Robinson left for Twiggs
read in part, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I
took it.”
In a recorded interview shown in court last month, Twiggs said he
had never heard Robinson talk about Kirk before the shooting.
Robinson also did not talk much about gender issues or LGBTQ+
rights, but he did sometimes talk about politics, including Trump,
Twiggs told investigators.
The Associated Press emailed Twiggs’ attorney seeking comment.
During the July hearing, investigators presented DNA analyses that
they said linked Robinson to both the suspected murder weapon and a
tool he allegedly used to engrave the bullet cartridges. Robinson’s
attorneys repeatedly questioned the reliability of DNA tests and
other evidence.
Defense attorneys also have argued against a possible sentence
enhancement for endangering others, saying the shooter “hit the
intended target.” Prosecutors said numerous people were within a
“zone of danger” around Kirk when he was shot from a rooftop.
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