Utah judge says Tyler Robinson will face trial and possible death penalty for Charlie Kirk’s killing
A Utah judge has ruled that Tyler Robinson will stand trial for the killing of Charlie Kirk and could face the death penalty if convicted. The case will proceed on all seven criminal counts.
The judge found enough evidence to proceed
Judge Tony Graf issued the ruling on September 1, finding that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Robinson, 23, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The charges include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and a violent offense committed in the presence of a child.
Graf also found sufficient evidence that Robinson endangered people in the crowd when he fired over the heads of thousands gathered at Utah Valley University to hear Kirk speak on September 10, 2025.
Death penalty remains possible
The murder charge and other allegations involving aggravating factors could make Robinson eligible for a death sentence by firing squad if convicted.
Prosecutor Ryan McBride asked the court to consider several aggravating factors, including the alleged danger to those near Kirk, the presence of children, and the claim that Kirk was targeted for his political beliefs. McBride noted that Kirk was among 4,000 people when the shot was fired, with people surrounding him on all sides.
Prosecutors detailed the alleged evidence
McBride described an alleged sequence in which Robinson traveled to the university, positioned himself on a rooftop, and fired at Kirk before later bragging about the killing through text messages with his trans partner, Lance Twiggs.
Prosecutors cited surveillance footage, DNA evidence from the firearm and a screwdriver left at the scene, and messages exchanged with Twiggs, who also provided video testimony. Twiggs stated that Robinson admitted responsibility for the shooting through texts and during an emotional conversation in person.
McBride also argued that Robinson’s objections to Kirk’s views on traditional relationships were connected to the alleged motive, saying, “We know what charge Kirk stood for, and those ideas were repugnant to the defendant, who was in a homosexual relationship with a man who was considering transitioning genders” (per New York Post).
Defense challenged the prosecution’s case
Robinson’s lawyers challenged the reliability of the prosecution’s evidence, raising concerns about both the video material and the DNA evidence linking Robinson to the shooting.
The defense argued that Robinson’s alleged single, targeted rifle shot did not meet the legal standard for a “high probability” of bystander death, as alleged by the prosecution. They also rejected the claim that Robinson’s personal relationship or sexuality established a motive for the attack.
The ruling came nearly a year after Kirk, who was 31, was killed. His family subsequently noted in a statement, “Today’s decision, which comes nearly a year since Charlie was taken from us, marks an important step in our family’s pursuit of justice for him.”