Charlie Kirk killing suspect adds two veteran California capital lawyers to defense team
Tyler Robinson, the 22‑year‑old charged in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has added veteran California capital lawyers Michael N. Burt and Richard G. Novak to his defense team, and a Utah court has permitted them to appear on his behalf at the Sept. 29 hearing. Burt — who defended Lyle Menendez and is designated as learned counsel in capital cases — and Novak, a longtime capital‑case practitioner, join court‑appointed lead attorney Kathryn Nester as Robinson faces aggravated‑murder and other death‑penalty‑eligible charges.
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🔍 Key Facts
- Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested about 33 hours after the Sept. 10 rooftop shooting that killed Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk; he was taken into custody after a family tip and surrendered to law enforcement and is being held without bail in Utah County Jail.
- Utah prosecutors filed formal charges (including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice and related counts) and announced they intend to seek the death penalty; a virtual first court appearance and subsequent hearings have been scheduled.
- Investigators recovered a Mauser Model 98 .30-06 bolt-action rifle with a scope wrapped in a towel in nearby woods and say DNA from the rifle/towel and a rooftop screwdriver link Robinson to the scene; authorities also cite surveillance video showing a person on the Losee Center roof firing a single shot that struck Kirk in the neck.
- Prosecutors presented additional evidence including a written note hidden under a keyboard and text messages to a roommate/partner in which Robinson allegedly admitted the shooting (e.g., “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it” and “I am, I'm sorry”); they allege he instructed others to delete messages and dispose of clothing after the attack.
- Shell casings and unfired rounds recovered with the rifle bore etched messages and internet/meme references (reported inscriptions include phrases such as “Hey fascist! Catch!” and lines from the song “Bella Ciao”); officials and extremism researchers say the engravings reflect online meme culture and investigators have not publicly tied the attack to an organized group.
- Robinson’s background reported by multiple outlets: a high‑achieving student who briefly attended Utah State University, later enrolled in an electrical apprenticeship program, registered but inactive voter, and—according to family and officials—had recently become more politically active; he lived with a romantic partner who is transgender and who has cooperated with investigators.
- Defense counsel: the court appointed Kathryn Nester (a former federal public defender) as lead attorney and recently permitted two veteran California capital lawyers to appear for Robinson—Michael N. Burt (47 years’ trial experience; previously defended Lyle Menendez) and Richard G. Novak (practiced since 1990; has handled many capital cases)—meeting Utah’s requirements for experienced capital representation; the county has approved additional funding to support the case.
- The killing prompted widespread national and international reaction—bipartisan political condemnation, vigils and moments of silence at sporting events, calls for platform takedowns of graphic videos, heightened security for public figures, and debate over political rhetoric and aspects of the FBI’s public communications during the manhunt (including an early, retracted 'in custody' post).
📊 Analysis & Commentary (15)
Playbook: Massive manhunt underway for Charlie Kirk’s killer
"Politico Playbook contextualizes the Charlie Kirk assassination and manhunt within Washington’s political reaction cycle, contrasting unity appeals with partisan blame and flagging implications for security and strategy while warning against premature conclusions."
Playbook: ‘A dark moment for America’
"Politico Playbook frames the Charlie Kirk assassination as a dark national moment, surveying political and institutional reactions while urging restraint in rhetoric and warning against politicizing the tragedy."
The Assassin's Veto
"The piece argues that Charlie Kirk’s assassination exemplifies an 'assassin’s veto'—violence used to silence speech—and calls for consistent condemnation, stronger protections for civic dialogue, and resistance to canceling events or weaponizing the tragedy for partisan ends."
An Open Society Requires Constant Vigilance
"Using the Charlie Kirk assassination as its focal point, the piece argues that sustaining an open society demands condemning political violence while maintaining free‑speech norms and resisting illiberal overreactions."
It's Time To Stop Being Carried Away By Conspiracy Theories
"The piece argues that after events like Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the public should avoid conspiratorial speculation, wait for evidence, and adopt a more restrained, evidence-based approach to claims."
Something With Nothing to Do With Murder
"The piece argues that public and media reactions to Charlie Kirk’s assassination have fixated on side issues while downplaying evidence of ideological motive, and urges focusing on the realities of the murder rather than deflective narratives."
Charlie Kirk's bold legacy lives on and will shape America for years to come
"A pastor close to Charlie Kirk offers a tribute arguing that Kirk’s faith-driven, tactical leadership and kindness will ensure his influence endures despite his assassination."
DAVID MARCUS: Democrats must stop their deadly anti-fascism cosplay
"The piece argues that Democrats’ and Antifa‑style 'anti‑fascist' rhetoric helped enable the climate that led to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, criticizing media efforts to deflect left‑wing culpability and defending Kirk against claims of fascism, misogyny, and racism."
Charlie Kirk Was Assassinated by the Transgender Movement
"The piece argues that Charlie Kirk’s assassination was driven by the transgender movement’s rhetoric and that media and officials are minimizing its ideological roots."
Bullets and Ballots: The Legacy of Charlie Kirk
"The piece reflects on Charlie Kirk’s assassination as a troubling marker of political violence while arguing his youth‑movement legacy will grow and urging a return to resolving politics through ballots rather than bullets."
📰 Sources (269)
Charlie Kirk assassination suspect's expanded defense team includes Menendez brother's former attorney
New information:
- Utah court permitted Michael N. Burt (San Francisco) and Richard G. Novak (Pasadena) to appear on behalf of Tyler Robinson at the Sept. 29, 2025 hearing.
- Michael N. Burt has 47 years of trial experience, defended Lyle Menendez in the Menendez brothers' first trial, and is designated a federal 'learned counsel' for capital cases.
- Richard G. Novak has practiced since 1990, worked on more than two dozen capital cases, and is also designated a learned counsel.
- Quote from high‑profile attorney Mark Geragos endorsing the ethical duty to defend notoriety‑ingrained cases.
Suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination expected to appear in court
New information:
- Court scheduling detail: Robinson is expected to appear in a Utah court on Monday to decide whether to waive a preliminary hearing or proceed to arraignment.
- Defense counsel named: Kathryn Nester is the lead attorney appointed to represent Robinson.
- Hearing logistics: the upcoming hearing will be in Provo and is open to the public.
Suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination case faces a court hearing
New information:
- Defense counsel Kathryn Nester was appointed to represent Tyler Robinson.
- Robinson and his newly appointed counsel will decide at a Monday court hearing whether to waive a preliminary hearing and proceed to an arraignment where a plea can be entered.
- The article reiterates prosecutors' assertion that they have incriminating text messages and DNA evidence and quotes Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray describing a note Robinson left for a romantic partner.
Suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination case faces court hearing
New information:
- A court hearing in Provo on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, will determine whether the defendant will waive a preliminary hearing and proceed to arraignment.
- Kathryn Nester has been appointed as the lead attorney for Tyler Robinson.
- Robinson turned himself in at his hometown sheriff's office accompanied by his parents when arrested.
- Prosecutors say they have revealed incriminating text messages and DNA evidence; they intend to seek the death penalty.
What will be Tyler Robinson’s defense strategy? Experts weigh in on accused Charlie Kirk assassin
New information:
- Named, on-the-record legal analyst quotes about likely defense strategy (Randolph Rice: goal to "keep him off of death row").
- Analysis that defense may seek a plea deal to avoid the death penalty and could try to argue the shooting lacked aggravating factors by framing it as a single-target, single-bullet attack.
- Discussion of defense concerns about media attention and personal safety for counsel, and comparison to Bryan Kohberger’s plea approach as an illustrative analogue.
Ex-FBI agent turned UVU professor breaks down the evidence trail Tyler Robinson left for detectives
New information:
- Named former FBI undercover agent Greg Rogers (now a UVU criminal‑justice professor) provides on‑the‑record analysis saying Robinson 'left evidence everywhere' and characterizing the planning as both extensive and sloppy.
- Police reportedly found a footprint on the rooftop from where prosecutors say the shot was fired.
- Investigators recovered DNA from a discarded rifle allegedly linked to the shooting.
- Surveillance images captured the suspect approaching the roof in disguise; Robinson allegedly drove about 265 miles back to St. George and was recognized by his parents, who helped negotiate his surrender.
Tyler Robinson disoriented, lacked escape plan after alleged Kirk assassination: former FBI field boss
New information:
- Quote from former FBI Minneapolis SAC Michael Tabman saying Robinson appeared 'irrational' and likely disoriented and without an escape plan after the shooting.
- Reporting that Robinson exchanged texts with his partner Lance Twiggs and initially remained in Orem before driving to his hometown, St. George, after roughly three‑and‑a‑half hours.
- Detail that Robinson’s parents recognized FBI‑released photos and, with the Washington County Sheriff's Office, persuaded him to surrender around 10:00 p.m.; sheriff described the surrender as 'gentle.'
- Visual/vehicle detail: a gray Dodge Challenger linked to Robinson was parked at his family home.
Charlie Kirk's accused assassin encountered by police during return to crime scene: law enforcement sources
New information:
- Law-enforcement sources say Tyler Robinson 'made contact' with a police officer near the woods where the alleged murder weapon was later recovered, at about 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 10, 2025.
- Prosecutors released excerpts of text messages allegedly sent by Robinson to roommate Lance Twiggs instructing him to 'look under my keyboard' and containing the line 'I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I'm going to take it.'
- The article frames the 6:30 p.m. encounter as a likely thwarting of Robinson's attempt to retrieve the Mauser .30-06 rifle from a drop point while parts of Orem were under lockdown.
Who is Kathryn Nester, Charlie Kirk assassination suspect Tyler Robinson’s attorney?
New information:
- Utah County appointed Kathryn Nester as Tyler Robinson's court‑appointed defense attorney.
- The Utah County Commission approved $1 million in staffing additions to support prosecution and defense in the case.
- Background on Nester: former federal public defender, trial attorney at Nester Lewis (Salt Lake City), represented high‑profile local defendants including Kouri Richins and Dr. Michael Kirk Moore, served on the Clemency Project National Steering Committee, and is a University of Texas School of Law graduate.
Charlie Kirk’s assassination leaves unanswered questions as investigators piece together gaps in case
New information:
- Surveillance video reportedly captured Tyler Robinson arriving on campus at approximately 8:30 a.m. the morning of the shooting.
- Police say Robinson was seen walking with a limp through a nearby neighborhood minutes before the fatal shot.
- Authorities allege Robinson climbed onto a rooftop to fire a single round; investigators recovered a bolt‑action rifle wrapped in a towel stashed in a nearby wooded area.
- Article quotes forensic expert Peter Valentin advising caution about public disclosures that could compromise investigative or tactical advantages.
Mangione, Catholic Church shooter, Charlie Kirk shooter, ICE shooter all used engraved bullets
New information:
- Details on recovered casings: four bullet casings recovered with Tyler Robinson’s firearm contained phrases popular in gaming culture, including references to antifascist sentiment.
- FBI attribution in broader pattern: the article places Robinson’s etched casings in a pattern of suspects marking munitions with ideological messages.
Suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson's defense attorney revealed
New information:
- Tyler Robinson has retained Kathryn Nester as defense counsel, confirmed by a Utah County spokesperson.
- Kathryn Nester is described as a former federal public defender with more than 30 years of experience (per the report).
- Article reiterates Robinson faces aggravated murder charges in Provo, Utah, a death-penalty-eligible case requiring qualified capital-defense counsel under state law.
Charlie Kirk's accused assassin stares down death penalty case with limited defense options
New information:
- Utah statute requires appointed attorneys in death-penalty cases to have prior trial and capital-case experience and at least two such attorneys must be appointed.
- Local defense attorneys quoted (Randall Spencer, Randolph Rice) warn that county contracts and the Public Defender Association do not adequately fund the level of work and expert services a capital defense requires.
- Defense-side practical hurdles: representing the suspect would consume a year or more of full-time work and necessitate separate contracts for experts and consultants beyond standard public-defender funding.
- Legal analysis from defense attorneys suggesting the 'great risk to others' aggravating-factor theory prosecutors might use to seek the death penalty could face significant challenges under Utah law.
Ex-US attorney warns prosecutors could face many hurdles in case against Charlie Kirk's alleged killer
New information:
- Quote and legal perspective from Rep. Brad Knott (ex‑U.S. attorney) warning prosecutors could face multiple evidentiary and testimonial hurdles in the Robinson prosecution
- Emphasis on the risk that intense media and public scrutiny could taint witness objectivity and the investigative process
Charlie Kirk assassination suspect remains in special housing unit despite completed mental evaluation
New information:
- Utah County jail completed a mental/medical evaluation of suspect Tyler Robinson and medical/mental‑health staff have seen him.
- Despite the completed evaluation, Robinson remains in the Utah County Sheriff's Office 'special housing unit' and on special watch for now.
- Sgt. Ray Ormond provided a direct quote confirming the evaluation and citing patient privacy as a reason for limited disclosure; the sheriff's office said housing could change 'down the road.'
Rifle behind Charlie Kirk’s killing may be untraceable relic from WWI
New information:
- Authorities identified the weapon as a Mauser Model 98 .30-06 bolt‑action rifle, likely WWI/WWII‑era, expanding earlier references to a generic Mauser.
- Investigators say the rifle belonged to suspect Tyler Robinson’s grandfather and may predate 1968 serial‑number requirements, making it harder to trace.
- Police allege Robinson selected the rifle for its untraceability; a message to his roommate reportedly said it might not have a serial number and that he left it in a bush after changing outfits.
- Utah State Bureau of Investigation found DNA on the rifle consistent with Robinson (clarifying where DNA was found).
- ATF context noted: such vintage bolt‑action rifles are rarely used in crimes compared with pistols and AR‑15‑style rifles.
Charlie Kirk ally reveals 'absolute miracle' that may have saved lives during fatal shooting
New information:
- TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet says Kirk’s surgeon described it as an 'absolute miracle' that the bullet did not exit, noting a high‑powered round normally would pass through.
- Kolvet reports the coroner found the bullet lodged just under Kirk’s skin rather than exiting his body.
- Kolvet relays the surgeon’s view that the round’s failure to exit likely prevented injuries or deaths among dozens of people positioned behind Kirk.
Timeline of Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin from campus shooting to sheriff's office surrender
New information:
- Minute-by-minute timeline from charging documents: 8:29 a.m. Sept. 10 arrival in Orem in a gray Dodge Challenger; clothing change before the attack.
- 11:50 a.m. surveillance shows the suspect entering UVU from the north; 12:03 p.m. entering the Losee Center, climbing to a common area, and scaling a wall to the rooftop.
- 12:22 p.m. the suspect lay prone on the rooftop aiming west toward the stage; 12:23 p.m. a single shot was fired that fatally struck Kirk.
- Surveillance captured the suspect fleeing the rooftop with a rifle, briefly dropping and retrieving it while moving toward the campus northeast.
- Utah DPS Commissioner Beau Mason told Fox News the suspect appeared to linger nearby attempting to retrieve the discarded rifle and that investigators are retracing movements using technology.
- Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby said the suspect surrendered at a sheriff’s office 33 hours later with his parents and believed capture was 'inevitable' due to law-enforcement pressure.
Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing feared being shot by police before surrendering, sheriff says
New information:
- Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby says Tyler Robinson feared being shot by police and agreed to surrender only if it was peaceful.
- Robinson arrived with his parents and turned himself in at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office; Brooksby’s role was limited to facilitating the surrender.
- Campus aftermath: UVU classes resumed with counseling “care stations,” and students gathered at the barricaded courtyard where Kirk was shot.
Kirk suspect feared being shot by police and agreed to peaceful surrender, official says
New information:
- An official says Tyler Robinson feared being shot by law enforcement and explicitly asked for a "peaceful, gentle, comfortable transition" when surrendering.
- The official adds Robinson "knew he was going to get caught," providing context for why he agreed to a peaceful surrender.
+ 249 more sources