Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, is being made to wear a special smock in jail to prevent him from harming himself.
Robinson was seen wearing the smock in a photo taken when he was arrested on September 12, and again on September 16 when he appeared in court. He joined the court hearing from jail through a video call.
A police officer from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said that Robinson is being held in a special part of the jail where inmates have to wear the smock all the time.
The officer explained that the smock is used for inmates who are being watched closely. This could be because of the type of crime they are accused of, problems with their behavior, if they have been violent, or if there are concerns that they might try to kill themselves.
Court documents show that Robinson had talked about wanting to end his life after his parents told the police that he was the one who shot Kirk. He is accused of traveling a long distance to a university campus where he shot and killed Kirk. Police say Robinson left a rifle at the scene that had his DNA on it.
Robinson’s parents recognized him in photos released by the FBI and also recognized the rifle as belonging to the family. He is now facing several charges, including murder, and could face the death penalty.
It’s not clear how long Robinson will have to wear the special smock. These smocks are made of strong material that is hard to tear, so they can’t be used to commit suicide. Robinson has not yet said whether he is guilty or not and is talking to lawyers who can represent him for free because he doesn’t have enough money.
