Live Updates: Kirk assassination suspect charged, evidence includes alleged text messages – Reuters
By Heather Timmons,Vanessa Balintec,Zoe Law
Copyright reuters
Robinson via video feed at Utah County Justice Court in Provo, Utah, U.S. September 16, 2025 in this screen capture. Utah State Courts/Handout via REUTERS
Tyler Robinson and Luigi Mangione, both accused in high-profile shooting death cases, appeared in court Tuesday.
Utah prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty for Robinson in Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Evidence against him includes alleged text messages in which he appeared to confess.
“I had enough of his hatred,” Tyler Robinson, 22, told his roommate and romantic partner when asked why he had committed the murder, according to transcripts.
He is accused of firing the single rifle shot that pierced Kirk’s neck last Wednesday.
Utah County District Attorney Jeffrey Gray said his office had filed seven counts against Robinson, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice for disposing of evidence and witness tampering.
Robinson made an initial court appearance via video feed from jail, and spoke only once, when asked to state his name.
His next court hearing is scheduled for September 29.
UPDATES ON MANGIONE
Mangione at Manhattan Supreme Court in New York City, U.S., September 16, 2025. Curtis Means/Pool via REUTERS
Separately, a New York state judge dismissed two terrorism-related counts against Luigi Mangione over the December 2024 killing of health insurance executive Brian Thompson.
The 27-year-old remains charged with second-degree murder and eight other criminal counts.
Mangione was led into the courtroom in Lower Manhattan handcuffed and with shackles on his feet, wearing tan prison garb.
Prosecutors had not presented enough evidence to the grand jury that Mangione acted with the intent to intimidate health insurance workers or influence government policy, the judge said.
Mangione faces parallel track trials in state and federal courts; the U.S. Department of Justice has asked for the death penalty.
We’re wrapping up our live coverage for now, but you can read more from our colleagues here and here.
