Utah District Judge Tony Graf will take two months to decide whether to send Tyler Robinson to trial for the alleged assassination of Charlie Kirk. The ruling is now scheduled for September 1, at which point Graf will determine if Robinson faces a murder trial and the potential for the death penalty.
The conclusion of the five-day pre-trial probable cause hearing comes after prosecutors presented a significant amount of evidence, including alleged confessions, DNA on a towel found with the murder weapon, and testimony from Robinson's former roommate and lover, Lance Twiggs. Both the prosecution and defense requested additional time to review transcripts and submit written arguments.
During the hearing, prosecutors detailed evidence they contend implicates Robinson. This included footage of Twiggs recounting his interactions with Robinson, where Twiggs stated Robinson admitted he "wished he hadn't done it." Twiggs also testified that Robinson left him a handwritten note on September 10, 2025, the day Kirk was assassinated, which read: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it."
Prosecutors also presented text messages allegedly exchanged between Robinson and Twiggs on the day of the shooting. In these messages, Robinson reportedly confessed, responding to Twiggs' disbelief with "I am, I'm sorry." He also discussed plans to retrieve the murder weapon, writing, "If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence." According to the texts, Robinson had been planning the shooting for "a bit over a week."
Additional alleged confessions were presented, including statements Robinson purportedly made to his parents and a message posted on the gaming platform Discord. In the Discord message, Robinson allegedly wrote, "Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. I'm sorry for all of this. I'm surrendering through a sheriff friend in a few moments."
Authorities stated that Twiggs cooperated with investigators and provided DNA, which was found on a towel wrapped around the murder weapon, alongside Robinson's DNA.
The Kirk family, including Charlie Kirk's widow Erika and his parents Robert and Kathryn, released a statement calling the hearing an "important step forward in the pursuit of justice." The statement expressed gratitude for support and comfort in the evidence presented, adding, "Nothing will ever undo the loss of our beloved Charlie. As this case moves into its next phase, we pray that truth will continue to be heard through a process that is fair, transparent, and grounded in the facts."