Tyler Robinson appears for hearing in Charlie Kirk killing case
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Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in 4th District Court on June 12, 2026, in Provo, Utah. Photo: Francisco Kjolseth-Pool/Getty Images
Utah prosecutors began presenting their evidence Monday at the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University last year.
Why it matters: The weeklong hearing in Provo will help Judge Tony Graf determine whether there's enough evidence to send the case to trial in what could become one of the nation's most-watched criminal cases.
Catch up quick: Robinson, 23, faces one count of aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, along with six additional charges.
- Robinson surrendered after his family identified him in video footage, ending a manhunt that lasted more than a day.
- The state is seeking the death penalty.
Between the lines: Robinson sat next to his attorneys in cuffs wearing a cream-colored shirt.
- Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, and his parents made their first courtroom appearance on Monday. They were joined by Donald Trump Jr., who was friends with Kirk.
The big picture: Graf briefly recoiled while watching a video clip showing the moment Kirk was shot.
State of play: Prosecutors' first witness, former UVU police officer Chris Bagley, who was on duty during the shooting, described what transpired on Sept. 10.
- Bagley said he was assigned to patrol the roof of the Hall of Flags, overlooking the courtyard where Kirk was holding a rally attended by about 3,000 people.
- After hearing the gunshot, Bagley saw Kirk, who was underneath a tent, slump to the left, and chaos ensued as people screamed and fled from the courtyard.
- A suspect, who was later found to not have carried out the shooting, was quickly apprehended.
Bagley said he went down to the courtyard and saw an empty pistol holster on the ground but realized the shot sounded more like it came from a rifle.
- He then made his way to the four-story Losee Center, which had a clear line of sight of Kirk's tent. He requested surveillance footage, which found another person had been on the rooftop.
- "I realized that we probably didn't have our shooter in custody," he said on the stand.
The other side: Robinson's legal team has not entered a plea, but Monday's hearing offered a glimpse into its defense strategy.
- During cross-examination, defense attorney Kathryn Nester questioned Bagley about security preparations before the event, the number of UVU police officers on patrol, and whether investigators ever took the holster Bagley spotted into evidence.
Zoom in: The state's second witness, David Hull, who was working as an agent for the State Bureau of Investigation when the shooting occurred, noted that UVU surveillance footage captured Robinson visiting campus about four times on Sept. 10.
What they're saying: "Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his children," Charlie Kirk's family said in a joint statement ahead of Monday's hearing.
- "Out of respect for the judicial process, we will not be commenting further at this time," they said.
What's next: Prosecutors are expected to call Hull back to the stand on Tuesday, along with other law enforcement witnesses.