Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will seem in court this week for a multiday hearing the place Utah prosecutors are poised to preview a few of their proof in the case, together with a videotaped assertion by Robinson’s former roommate, a key witness.
The roommate – who has been described in court paperwork as Robinson’s romantic companion – is predicted to supply perception into messages the pair purportedly exchanged after the deadly taking pictures final September, together with what investigators allege is a confession by Robinson.
Kirk’s dad and mom and his widow, Erika Kirk, will attend this week’s hearing, a supply aware of the scenario advised NCS.
The recorded assertion is only one piece of proof the Utah County Attorney’s Office has mentioned it plans to current through the preliminary hearing, which is scheduled to start Monday and final a number of days. Prosecutors intend to name a handful of legislation enforcement officers to testify, they mentioned in court filings, in addition to show bodily proof – together with surveillance footage, photographs of the alleged homicide weapon, ballistics proof and the messages between Robinson and his roommate.
The protection crew mentioned it plans to name three forensic consultants to testify.
The hearing comes about ten months after Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative firebrand and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot as he addressed a crowd of roughly 3,000 folks throughout an occasion at Utah Valley University in Orem. News of his demise – one instance of the political violence roiling America in current years – rapidly went international, with graphic movies flooding social media and politicians on each side of the aisle swiftly condemning the killing.
The day after the taking pictures, Robinson surrendered to police.
Prosecutors have mentioned they intend to hunt the demise penalty towards Robinson, who’s charged with aggravated homicide, felony use of a firearm, committing a violent offense in the presence of a kid and obstruction of justice. He can also be charged with witness tampering associated to a few of his alleged communications together with his roommate.
Robinson has not but entered pleas: In Utah, a preliminary hearing is used to find out whether or not there’s possible trigger to assist the filed prices. If the decide finds there’s ample proof to proceed to trial, Robinson shall be arraigned and enter pleas.
News cameras shall be allowed to report and broadcast a lot of the hearing, the decide dominated final week over the objections of Robinson’s attorneys.
His protection crew has repeatedly raised considerations about information protection of the high-profile proceedings, arguing in court filings it might impair his proper to a good trial and switch his case into “a reality TV show,” whereas prosecutors have mentioned having cameras in court is one of the simplest ways to fight rampant misinformation and conspiracy theories.
The protection had argued to delay the hearing, saying in court filings this spring the excessive quantity of discovery meant Robinson’s attorneys can be unable to adequately put together.
They additionally beforehand argued that they had not been given the chance to overview the complete scope of forensic proof, once more limiting their means to answer the state’s case. The protection has since obtained the complete evidentiary experiences it sought.
In a press release, Kirk’s household expressed gratitude for the “support, prayers, and kindness we have received,” saying the “outpouring has sustained us during the darkest days of our lives.”
“Charlie was a beloved husband, son, brother, friend, and father,” the assertion mentioned. “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.”
“Out of respect for the judicial process, we will not be commenting further at this time,” the assertion mentioned. “We ask for continued privacy as we navigate this process and immense grief.”
Kirk was shot in the neck early in the afternoon on September 10, 2025, as he addressed the gang gathered in a UVU campus courtyard for an occasion kicking off his nationwide “The American Comeback” tour.
Surveillance cameras captured an individual dressed in darkish clothes on a close-by roof overlooking the courtyard lower than ten minutes earlier than the killing, prosecutors mentioned in charging paperwork. Immediately after the deadly shot was fired, the particular person ran throughout the roof holding an object formed like a rifle earlier than climbing all the way down to the bottom and operating in direction of a wooded space, prosecutors wrote.
In the woods, investigators mentioned they discovered the suspected murder weapon – a Mauser Model 98 .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle with a mounted scope – wrapped in a towel. The firearm contained one spent spherical and three unspent rounds, which had been every engraved with messages, in keeping with charging paperwork.
DNA per Robinson’s was discovered on the gun’s set off, the fired cartridge casing, two of the opposite cartridges and the towel, prosecutors mentioned. Robinson’s protection crew has mentioned a extra complicated evaluation is required as a result of forensic experiences point out DNA from a number of folks – as much as “five or more” – was discovered on some objects.
A federal evaluation of the bullet fragments recovered from Kirk’s physique “could not be identified or excluded” as being fired by the recovered rifle, in keeping with court paperwork. The protection had seized upon this report in court filings, noting the report “was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson” and thus may very well be exculpatory.
An inconclusive ballistics consequence is just not unusual, because the evaluation depends upon the scale and situation of the bullet fragments recovered.
The day after the taking pictures, Robinson’s dad and mom realized circulating photographs of the suspect – who was nonetheless at giant – and the alleged homicide weapon resembled their son and his gun, in keeping with an account the couple gave investigators cited in charging paperwork.
Robinson’s dad and mom satisfied him to fulfill at their house, the place he “implied that he was the shooter and stated that he couldn’t go to jail and just wanted to end it,” prosecutors wrote in charging paperwork
“When asked why he did it, Robinson explained there is too much evil and the guy [Charlie Kirk] spreads too much hate,” they wrote.
With the assistance of a household good friend, a retired deputy sheriff, Robinson’s dad and mom persuaded him to give up to authorities, in keeping with charging paperwork. That night, plainclothes detectives greeted Robinson as he turned himself in at a neighborhood sheriff’s workplace, accompanied by his dad and mom and the household good friend, Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby mentioned on the time.
Robinson’s roommate – who the prosecution, citing Robinson’s mom, described in court paperwork as an individual who was “transitioning genders” – is probably going a vital element of the state’s case. Prosecutors have argued messages between the 2 embody what quantities to a confession on the defendant’s half.
The Utah County Attorney’s Office granted the roommate restricted immunity in trade for a recorded assertion given to investigators in April. The assertion, which prosecutors say contains discussions in regards to the alleged messages from Robinson, is predicted to be proven through the preliminary hearing.
On the day Kirk was killed, Robinson messaged his roommate to “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard,” in keeping with charging paperwork.
Prosecutors mentioned the roommate discovered a handwritten observe beneath the keyboard that learn, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
“you weren’t the one who did it right????” the roommate messaged Robinson, per the paperwork.
“I am, I’m sorry,” Robinson allegedly replied.
In subsequent messages included in charging paperwork, Robinson referenced engraving bullets and leaving his rifle wrapped in a towel.
Asked why he did it, Robinson allegedly wrote to his roommate, “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated.”
After writing he was going to show himself in, prosecutors mentioned Robinson instructed his roommate to delete their messages.
“if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent,” he allegedly wrote.