Utah County Attorney General Jeff Gray said Tuesday that the state will seek the death penalty against the man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk last week at a university event, announcing seven state charges including aggravated murder.

Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested Thursday for Kirk’s assassination. The conservative activist’s death jolted the nation, reigniting concerns about rising political violence in the U.S., while also prompting partisan finger-pointing over what was to blame.

“The murder of Charlie Kirk is an American tragedy,” Gray said at a press conference.

“Charlie Kirk was murdered while engaging in one of our most sacred and cherished American rights, the bedrock of our democratic republic: the free exchange of ideas in a search for truth, understanding and a more perfect union,” he added.

On top of the murder charge, Robinson faces counts of felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

Gray said the state is further alleging aggravating factors on the murder and firearm charges because Robinson is believed to have “targeted” Kirk based on his political expression and did so knowing that children were present.

Robinson’s first court appearance is scheduled to be held virtually Tuesday afternoon, where prosecutors must convince a judge there is probable cause he committed the crimes in order to proceed to trial.

President Trump has

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