Prosecutors are presenting a substantial amount of evidence against Tyler Robinson, 23, who faces the death penalty for the alleged assassination of Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point USA event. Pre-trial hearings commenced this week in Utah, where a judge will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a full trial.
Robinson was arrested 33 hours after the September 10, 2025, shooting at Utah Valley University after his parents recognized him from surveillance images and convinced him to surrender. He has remained in custody since his arrest.
At a pre-trial evidence hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors introduced surveillance footage allegedly showing Robinson on the university campus in a Dodge Challenger on the day of the shooting. The footage reportedly shows the suspect walking with a noticeable limp as he ascended stairs toward a rooftop, which authorities believe was the shooting location.
Prosecutors intend to present further evidence, including DNA linking Robinson to the alleged murder weapon, autopsy findings, witness statements, and additional surveillance footage from the scene. They are also expected to introduce text messages Robinson allegedly sent to his transgender boyfriend on the day of the shooting, expressing that he had "enough of (Kirk's) hatred" and that "some hatred can't be negotiated out."
However, the prosecution encountered an early setback when District Court Judge Tony Graf rejected certain surveillance footage, citing concerns that it had been edited. Prosecutors stated the edits, which included circles and zooms, were made for clarity. Additionally, the first officer on the scene, Utah Valley University police officer Chris Bagley, testified that his body camera malfunctioned and ran out of batteries on the day of the shooting, meaning no bodycam footage exists to corroborate his account.
Despite these initial challenges, prosecutors only need to establish probable cause to advance the case to trial, a lower threshold than the "beyond reasonable doubt" standard required for conviction.
Robinson's father, Matt Robinson, a construction worker, reportedly contacted investigators after recognizing his son in surveillance images and played a role in convincing him to surrender.
When confronted by his father, Robinson initially expressed a desire to harm himself rather than surrender but was later persuaded to speak with a family friend associated with the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators compiled evidence rapidly following the shooting, receiving thousands of tips. Prosecutors allege Robinson drove a gray Dodge Challenger approximately four hours to the UVU campus.
Previously released surveillance footage reportedly shows the suspect climbing onto the roof of the Losee Center building before firing and fleeing.
Officer Bagley testified that he was near the stage when Kirk was shot and that the scene was chaotic. He noted a raised roof across from the stage as a potential vantage point for the shooter and later discovered what he described as a "sniper pad" on the Losee Center rooftop.
During cross-examination, Bagley admitted he did not collect an empty pistol holster found on the ground and that his body camera was not operational. Investigators later found a bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel near the campus. Unfired bullet casings found with the rifle were reportedly engraved with political messages, including "Hey fascist! CATCH!" and "If you read This, you are GAY. Lmao."
Robinson allegedly told his boyfriend in texts, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I'm going to take it." He also reportedly sent an auto-text to his boyfriend stating, "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out."
Court documents indicate that Robinson's family informed investigators that he had become increasingly political in the years leading up to the shooting and had expressed disagreement with Kirk's conservative views.