Charlie Kirk Hearing began in a Utah courtroom as family members of the late Charlie Kirk attended the opening day of a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson. Robinson, 23, faces charges accusing him of fatally shooting the conservative activist. The hearing marked the first time Kirk’s family and the defendant had appeared in the same courtroom since prosecutors filed the case.
Robinson entered the courtroom before members of the public arrived. He wore a gray suit, a pink shirt, and a black tie. Court officers kept his wrists and ankles restrained throughout the proceedings.
The hearing centered on witness testimony and evidence connected to the September 10, 2025, shooting at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors first called Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull. Hull introduced several videos collected during the investigation.
Some recordings were shown only to the judge and attorneys. Those videos reportedly captured the moment a bullet struck Kirk in the neck. Although the images remained private, people inside the courtroom heard the audio.
During one recording, Judge Tony Graf Jr. visibly leaned back and appeared to flinch when the gunshot sounded. Robinson showed no visible reaction while the recordings played.
Before graphic evidence appeared, Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, and his parents, Rob and Kathy Kirk, left the courtroom after receiving advance notice. The family also stepped out before testimony about the shooting and the autopsy.
While inside the courtroom, family members quietly watched the proceedings from the front rows. Erika Kirk attended with her parents-in-law, sister, niece, and nephew. Donald Trump Jr., his wife Bettina, and commentators Jack Posobiec and Brandon Tatum also attended in support of the Kirk family.
Robinson’s parents sat several rows behind the victim’s family with other relatives.
After the family temporarily left, Agent Hull discussed the autopsy findings. He testified that the medical examiner ruled Kirk’s death a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the neck.
The court also heard testimony from Officer Christopher Bagley. He worked at Utah Valley University when the shooting occurred. Bagley now serves with the Spanish Fork Police Department.
Bagley testified that he believed he heard a rifle shot rather than a handgun discharge. He based that conclusion on an empty handgun holster lying on the ground. The officer also observed that the Losee Center rooftop overlooked the location where Kirk had been speaking.
Once on the rooftop, Bagley found a black-and-red screwdriver. He also observed impressions in the gravel that resembled what he described as a sniper’s pad. Surveillance footage later showed a suspect on the roof. Bagley also noticed footprints and scuff marks nearby.
During cross-examination, defense counsel asked whether Bagley’s original police report identified the direction of the gunshot. Bagley acknowledged that it did not. He also testified that he did not know what happened to the handgun holster.
Prosecutors later attempted to introduce edited surveillance footage from the university. The defense objected, arguing the recording had not been properly authenticated because it contained edits, blurred faces, zoomed images, and highlighted areas.
Judge Graf sustained the objection and declined to admit the edited recording into evidence. Prosecutors said they planned to submit an unedited version later.
Additional video allegedly showed a vehicle linked to Robinson traveling to and from a residence near the university after midnight on September 11. Investigators said those movements occurred roughly twelve hours after the shooting.
Prosecutors also said the court is expected to hear a previously recorded statement from Robinson’s former partner, Lance Twiggs. According to prosecutors, Twiggs received a written confession after the shooting and later shared information with investigators.
The preliminary hearing will continue with additional testimony and evidence. Robinson has not entered a plea. If convicted of aggravated murder, he could face the death penalty under Utah law.
The Charlie Kirk Hearing will continue throughout the week as the court reviews testimony and evidence before deciding whether the case should proceed to trial. The outcome of the Charlie Kirk Hearing will determine the next stage of the criminal process while Robinson remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
