Did Tyler Robinson confess to killing Charlie Kirk? Are Discord messages admissible in court?

The central, chilling claim from Utah prosecutors is straightforward: Tyler Robinson confessed — both in private text messages to people close to him and in a Discord group chat — to fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah Valley University event on September 10, 2025. That allegation forms the backbone of the state’s case as Robinson faces aggravated murder charges and prosecutors announce they will seek the death penalty.

The alleged confession: texts, a note, and a Discord message

Prosecutors say the timeline of admissions is strikingly direct. Court filings and public statements detail three separate forms of communication in which Robinson allegedly admitted involvement:

• A handwritten note reportedly left under a keyboard in an apartment said, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” according to the Utah County Attorney’s Office. The roommate later found a photo of that note.

• Text messages to his roommate (who prosecutors say was also his romantic partner) include messages sent shortly after the shooting in which Robinson — when pressed — replied, “I am, I’m sorry,” and otherwise alluded to having been at the scene and plans to retrieve a rifle. Those exchanges are quoted by prosecutors and summarized in multiple outlets.

• A post in a Discord group chat: Robinson allegedly wrote around the time of the attack, “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday,” according to reporting based on law-enforcement review of digital communications and statements from the platform. That message is one of the pieces prosecutors point to as evidence of both premeditation and post-crime admission.

Taken together, prosecutors argue these messages amount to a confession and proof of motive: an explicitly political grievance against Kirk and his public rhetoric. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray described the killing as “an American tragedy” and said Robinson’s statements show the attack was motivated by hatred of Kirk’s political views.

What investigators say they also found

Beyond the communications, officials say investigators uncovered other material evidence they say links Robinson to the crime scene: a rifle allegedly sourced from a family member’s home, bullet casings bearing politically charged inscriptions left near the scene, and other digital traces. Authorities assert the combination of physical and digital evidence supports the charge of aggravated murder and the state’s decision to pursue capital punishment.

How Robinson was caught and surrendered

Robinson’s arrest, according to reporting, began with a human detail: his mother recognized him in news photos of the suspect, leading to a tense family negotiation in which Robinson ultimately agreed to surrender peacefully to law enforcement after concerns about a violent arrest. He turned himself in on the evening of September 11, 2025. At his first virtual court appearance on September 16, Robinson appeared emotionless and was wearing a suicide-prevention smock (often described as an “anti-suicide vest”), and a judge ordered him held without bail.

Legal posture and the question of admissibility

Prosecutors have filed multiple charges — aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and others — and announced plans to seek the death penalty. The presence of alleged confessions in texts and Discord raises questions about how the evidence will be treated at trial. Legal experts told reporters that digital messages and chat logs can be powerful evidence but may also become the focus of defense challenges over authenticity, context, and whether any statements were coerced or misattributed. Courts will ultimately decide the admissibility and weight of these communications.

Why the alleged confession matters politically and legally

If the chats and texts are authenticated and admitted, they could dramatically strengthen prosecutors’ case by showing both motive and consciousness of guilt. Politically, the alleged confession has escalated national debate: officials and political figures have framed the killing as symptomatic of extremes in public discourse, while others have warned against weaponizing the case for partisan purposes. The presence of inscriptions on casings and allegedly political language in messages has amplified the perception that the crime was ideologically driven.

What remains unanswered

Several important questions remain open and will be explored in pretrial proceedings:

• Authentication: Are the Discord messages and text exchanges provably authored by Robinson and unaltered?

  
  
  

• Context: Were any messages taken out of context or misinterpreted? Were there other participants or influencers involved?

• Forensic proof: How strong is the physical evidence linking Robinson to the rifle used and the crime scene?

• Mental state and motive: Will defense counsel argue diminished responsibility or another theory to explain behavior?

These procedural issues are standard in high-profile cases and will shape whether prosecutors can meet Utah’s burden of proof for a capital conviction.

What prosecutors presented publicly so far (key documented claims)

1. A written note found beneath a keyboard in the apartment that said Robinson planned to “take out” Kirk.

2. Text messages to a roommate and others in which Robinson allegedly admits or alludes to the killing.

3. A Discord message in a group chat reading “it was me at UVU yesterday,” as reported by investigators and news outlets.

4. Physical evidence including a rifle linked to Robinson and bullet casings inscribed with political slogans.

5. Robinson’s peaceful surrender after his mother identified him in photos and negotiated for him to give himself up.

Robinson remains jailed without bail. His next scheduled court appearance is set for September 29, 2025, when pretrial motions, counsel assignment and other procedural matters are expected to move forward. As evidence is disclosed to the defense and the public, additional layers of detail will almost certainly surface.

According to public statements from prosecutors and contemporaneous reporting by major outlets, yes — prosecutors say Tyler Robinson confessed to the killing of Charlie Kirk in multiple communications: a Discord message, direct text messages to his roommate, and a written note. Those alleged admissions are joined by other evidence that prosecutors say ties Robinson to the scene and motive. But confession claims—especially those drawn from digital platforms—will face legal scrutiny over authenticity, context and admissibility before a jury decides guilt.

FAQs on Tyler Robinson

Did Tyler Robinson confess to killing Charlie Kirk?
Prosecutors say yes — they allege Robinson admitted the shooting in a Discord group message and in text messages to his roommate, and also left a handwritten note indicating he planned the attack. These claims are part of the charging documents and public statements by Utah County prosecutors.

What was said in the alleged Discord message?
According to reporting, an account linked to Robinson posted, “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday,” shortly after the shooting; Discord confirmed the message to reporters.

What texts did Robinson send to his roommate?
Prosecutors say Robinson sent messages indicating involvement, including a response “I am, I’m sorry” when pressed about the shooting, and instructions to delete evidence, according to charging documents summarized in reporting.

Was the confession public or private?
The alleged admissions were both private (texts to a roommate, a handwritten note) and semi-public (a Discord post in a group chat). Prosecutors have cited all as part of their case.

Was Tyler Robinson wearing an anti-suicide vest in court?
Yes. During his first virtual hearing Robinson appeared wearing what media described as a green suicide-prevention smock or anti-suicide vest; the judge ordered him held without bail.

Is Robinson charged and could he face the death penalty?
Robinson was charged with aggravated murder and other counts; Utah prosecutors announced they intend to seek the death penalty if convicted.

How was Robinson identified and arrested?
Family recognition played a role: his mother reportedly identified him in published photos, which led to negotiations and his peaceful surrender to authorities.

Are the Discord messages admissible in court?
Digital messages can be admissible if properly authenticated. Defense and prosecution will litigate authenticity, context, and any possible coercion or misattribution before a jury sees them. Legal experts note authentication will be crucial.