Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Hear Tyler Robinson Charging Documents - September 16, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Nancy Grace presents the shocking details behind the shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk on the campus of Utah Valley University. The episode is centered around the reading of the official charging documents against suspect Tyler James Robinson, highlighting the nature and gravity of the alleged crimes, the evidence collected, and the immediate aftermath as pieced together by law enforcement. The reading gives listeners an unvarnished look at the prosecution's case, the investigative process, and key insights from those close to the accused.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Charges Against Tyler Robinson

• Presented by Crime Stories’ Dave Mack reading the official document
• Major Offenses Charged:
  • Aggravated Murder (capital felony)
  • Felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury (first degree felony)
  • Obstruction of justice (two counts, second degree felonies)
  • Tampering with a witness (two counts, third degree felonies)
  • Violent offense committed in the presence of a child (Class A misdemeanor)

Enhancements:

• Victim targeting based on political expression: The prosecution alleges Robinson specifically targeted Kirk because of his perceived political views.
• Presence of children: The violent offense was allegedly committed in front of children under 14, introducing further aggravating factors for sentencing.

2. Timeline and Details of the Shooting

[04:34 – 07:10]

• Incident Date/Time: September 10, 2025, around 12:23pm
• Location: Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, at a public Turning Point USA event hosted by Charlie Kirk
• Event: As Kirk was answering a question from the crowd, a single rifle shot rang out. Kirk was struck in the neck, slumped to the ground, and was soon pronounced dead at hospital.
• Scene Details:
  • Large crowd; children visibly present
  • Kirk was surrounded by team members and separated from attendees by minimal fencing
  • Shooter's perch was from a nearby rooftop, requiring trespassing and physical climbing

Quote (Charging Document, read by Dave Mack):

“Approximately 15 minutes into the event, Mr. Kirk was answering a question about mass shootings by transgender individuals when a gunshot rang out. The bullet struck Mr. Kirk in the neck. He slumped to the ground almost immediately.” (06:31)

3. Law Enforcement Response and Evidence Gathering

[07:11 – 14:21]

• Immediate Police Action:
  • UVU officer, stationed at an elevated vantage, tracked the likely sniper location to a public walkway rooftop
  • Physical evidence: Sniper’s prone position identified via markings in roof gravel
• Video Surveillance:
  • Suspect arrived on campus at 11:51am, captured wearing a black shirt with American flag, dark cap, large sunglasses, and walking with a stiff gait (interpreted as hiding a rifle in pants)
  • Surveillance footage tracked his movement to, across, and off the rooftop
• Rifle Evidence:
  • Bolt-action .30-06 rifle found nearby, wrapped in a towel, containing one spent round and three unfired rounds
  • Each round was engraved with taunting or meme-like messages
  • DNA consistent with Robinson’s found on rifle and cartridge
  • No shell casings on roof confirmed bolt-action rifle use

Quotes:

“Each round in the rifle contained an etched inscription. As fired cartridge, ‘notices bulge owo’. Second cartridge, ‘hey fascist catch’. Third cartridge, ‘Oh bella chow bella chow bella chow chow chow.’ Fourth cartridge, ‘If you read this, you are gay. lmao.’” (12:10)

4. Robinson’s Flight and Surrender

[14:22 – 17:19]

• Manhunt lasts over 33 hours.
• September 11, 2025: Robinson turns himself in at Washington County Sheriff’s Office, accompanied by parents and a family friend (retired deputy sheriff).
  • Mother suspected her son after seeing surveillance footage; both parents acknowledged his recent political shift and antagonistic attitude towards Kirk.
  • Robinson reportedly implied intent to take his own life before being persuaded to surrender.

Quotes:

“When asked why he did it, Robinson explained, ‘There is too much evil and the guy, Charlie Kirk, spreads too much hate.’” (17:02)

5. Text Messages, Witness Tampering, and Forensics

[17:20 – 21:53]

• Robinson’s Roommate:
  • Found a note from Robinson: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it."
  • Texts confirmed planning over a week, discussion of hiding evidence, instructions to delete messages.
  • Robinson worried about retrieving the rifle, discussed potential evidence, and gave explicit instructions to stay silent if contacted by police.
• Witness Tampering Charges: arised from these attempts to coach the roommate’s responses and cover tracks.

Quotes from messages:

“Delete this exchange.” – Robinson (19:44)
“If any police ask you questions, ask for a lawyer and stay silent.” – Robinson (20:12)

6. Family Dynamics and Motive

[21:54 – 23:10]

• Political and personal context revealed:
  • Robinson recently became "more pro gay and trans rights oriented," clashing with his conservative father.
  • Started dating a trans roommate.
  • Saw Kirk as spreading hate and specifically objected to the UVU event.

Quote:

“Over the last year or so, Robinson had become more political... started to lean more to the left, becoming more pro gay and trans rights oriented. She stated that Robinson began to date his roommate... led to several discussions with family members, especially with his father.” (21:59)

7. Summary of the Case and Counts

[23:11 – 24:44]

• Charges tie together the shooting, presence of a child, obstruction of justice through destruction/hiding of materials, and attempts to tamper with witness testimony.
• Concludes with Utah County Attorney’s Office content that probable cause has been established.

Notable Quotes & Key Moments

• [06:31] “Approximately 15 minutes into the event, Mr. Kirk was answering a question about mass shootings by transgender individuals when a gunshot rang out. The bullet struck Mr. Kirk in the neck. He slumped to the ground almost immediately.”
• [12:10] “Each round in the rifle contained an etched inscription... ‘notices bulge owo’... ‘hey fascist catch’... ‘Oh bella chow bella chow bella chow chow chow.’... ‘If you read this, you are gay. lmao.’”
• [17:02] “There is too much evil and the guy, Charlie Kirk, spreads too much hate.” – Robinson
• [19:44] “Delete this exchange.” – Robinson to roommate
• [20:12] “If any police ask you questions, ask for a lawyer and stay silent.” – Robinson to roommate

Episode Structure/Timeline

• [01:11]: Introduction to the day's case and charges against Robinson
• [01:20–24:44]: Complete reading of the charging documents, evidence, and summary
  • Details on incident, charging factors, forensic evidence, timeline, and law enforcement actions
  • Family, motive, and text exchanges with roommate
• [24:44+]: (Ads/outros skipped)

Takeaways

• The episode offers a comprehensive, close-to-source review of the legal and factual basis underpinning the charges against Robinson, revealing significant personal, political, and forensic aspects.
• The show’s tone is grave, fact-driven, and intent on both outlining the enormity of the crime and the thoroughness of the investigation.
• Listeners are left with a clear and chilling portrait of how a high-profile political shooting unfolded, was planned, and was pursued in the early stages of prosecution.