Today in court
• The case against Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, can move to trial, a judge ruled, citing sufficient probable cause. Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
• Judge Tony Graf ruled Robinson will stand trial on all counts, including aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury. Robinson was arraigned and his attorney entered not guilty pleas on his behalf.
• Kirk’s family welcomed the ruling as an important step in the “pursuit of justice.” Erika Kirk, alongside her late husband’s parents, were in the courtroom today.
Updates
(35)Our live coverage of today’s hearing has concluded. Please scroll through the posts below to learn about all the developments on Tuesday.
What you need to know after defendant pleads not guilty to charges in Charlie Kirk killing
Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk nearly a year ago on a Utah college campus, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The plea, which was entered by Robinson’s attorney, came after a preliminary hearing where the judge ruled the defendant can stand trial for the killing on all seven counts.
Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
Here’s what else you need to know about what happened today:
- The charges against Robinson are aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.
- Kirk’s family said in a statement after the judge’s ruling the decision to go to trial is an “important step” toward justice. “As the next phase of the judicial process begins, our family remains united in our love for Charlie, our commitment to the pursuit of justice, and our prayer for a transparent and timely process,” the statement read.
- The prosecution said the evidence, including video, clothing and DNA, proves there is probable cause to proceed to trial. Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride argued Robinson created “great risk of death” for others when shooting at Kirk across a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University. Robinson shot and killed Kirk last September “because he disagreed with him,” McBride said.
- The defense said “there was no evidence” anyone else was threatened during the shooting and challenged the prosecution’s framing of its evidence, arguing it relies on speculation.
CNN’s Elise Hammond and Andi Babineau contributed reporting.
Kirk family says Robinson's case going to trial is "important step" toward justice
Charlie Kirk’s family said the judge’s ruling today that Tyler Robinson will stand trial in connection to the conservative activist’s killing, is an “important step in our family’s pursuit of justice.”
Here’s what the statement, made on behalf of the Kirk family, said:
Suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing pleads not guilty after judge rules case can go to trial
The case against Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, can move to trial, a judge ruled Tuesday, citing sufficient probable cause.
Judge Tony Graf ruled that Robinson will stand trial on all counts: aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, tampering with a witness and violent offense committed in the presence of a child.
Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
The preliminary hearing was meant to establish whether there is probable cause to support the charges so Robinson had yet to enter pleas. His attorney entered not guilty pleas on his behalf after the judge’s ruling.
Court is back in session
District Judge Tony Graf is back on the bench and reading his ruling on whether the case against Tyler Robinson will go to trial.
Robinson stands charged in Charlie Kirk’s killing with aggravated murder, felony use of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and committing a violent act in the presence of a child.
Both sides gave closing arguments today during the preliminary hearing, with prosecutors arguing they had probable cause for the case to move forward.
Erika Kirk and mother-in-law appear to comfort each other during closing arguments
Erika Kirk and her mother-in-law, Kathryn Kirk, were visibly emotional and appeared to comfort each other as prosecutors made their closing arguments today in the preliminary hearing of Tyler Robinson, who is charged in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.
When prosecutor Chad Grunander spoke about the large margin of error for the gunshot that killed her husband in his rebuttal to the defense team’s closing arguments, Erika Kirk was leaning forward with her head in her hands while the person next to her rubbed her back.
Erika Kirk and Kathryn Kirk looked down at times during Grunander’s remarks, including when he displayed the drone photo showing the sniper’s perch and when he said Robinson allegedly did not reload his gun when he knew he shot Charlie Kirk.
At one point, Erika Kirk rested her head on her mother-in-law’s shoulder and stayed in that position for a long period of time until Grunander spoke about Robinson turning himself in.
Get up to speed on what happened during Tyler Robinson's preliminary hearing today
Right now, the judge is considering the arguments made by the prosecution and defense and will rule in about half an hour on whether there is probable cause for the case against Tyler Robinson to proceed to trial.
Robinson stands charged in conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.
Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, was in the courtroom today, alongside her late husband’s parents. The family members left when prosecutors discussed the details of how her husband was killed.
If you’re just joining us, here’s what happened today.
Prosecution:
- Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride said the evidence shows Robinson is the person who shot and killed Kirk last September “because he disagreed with him.”
- After scouting vantage points on the Utah Valley University campus, Robinson returned to the school “dressed to kill,” McBride said. Robinson was spotted on camera earlier in the day walking around the university before he returned armed, the prosecutor said.
- The aggravating circumstance included in the charges against Robinson is applicable because “you can’t shoot a rifle into a crowd of 3,000 people without knowing that you create a great risk of death to all those around your target,” McBride said.
- The shooting posed a “great risk” to the crowed around him, prosecutor Chad Grunander underscored in his rebuttal. Kirk was “a fluid target, and that adds to the danger, the great risk of death here,” he said.
Defense:
- Defense attorney Staci Visser, however, argued the conditions to include “risk of death” as an aggravating circumstance was not met and that there was “no evidence that would suggest that anyone else was threatened.”
- Visser challenged the prosecution’s framing of its evidence, arguing it relies on speculation. The lawyer pointed to the screwdriver that was found, for example, arguing the prosecution didn’t actually show how someone would use it to assemble and disassemble a rifle.
- The text messages Tyler Robinson sent his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, were taken out of context by prosecutors, defense attorney Richard Novak said. The text telling Twiggs not to talk to police was sent after Robinson turned himself in and was “altruistic,” Novak argued.
- The court also needs to determine if Kirk “was targeted because of his political expressions” from Tyler Robinson’s perspective — something his attorneys say the state can’t answer with the evidence.
CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow, Maureen Chowdhury and Andi Babineau contributed reporting.
Court is in recess until 5 p.m.
The prosecution rebuttal has ended and court is in recess until 5 p.m. local time.
The judge vowed to have a decision on whether the case will proceed to trial at that time.
“The court is committed to rendering that decision today and needs this hour to integrate the notes and the thoughts that were brought up by both sides,” Judge Tony Graf said, acknowledging the late day for all involved.
Closing arguments end in preliminary hearing for Charlie Kirk shooting suspect
Utah prosecutors and defense attorneys have concluded their closing arguments in the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, the man charged with shooting and killing Charlie Kirk.
Next up, District Judge Tony Graf is expected to rule whether the case can proceed to trial.
The prosecution said the evidence, including video, clothing and DNA, proves there is probable cause to proceed to trial. Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride argued Robinson created “great risk of death” for others when shooting at Kirk across a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University.
Meanwhile, the defense said “there was no evidence” anyone else was threatened during the shooting and challenged the prosecution’s framing of its evidence, arguing it relies on speculation.
Kirk family left courtroom as prosecutors shared details of medical examiner’s report
Erika Kirk and other family members left the courtroom as soon as Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride started discussing details of the medical examiner’s report that described how her husband was killed.
Early on in McBride’s closing argument at the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, he shared details from the report that said the bullet Robinson allegedly fired struck Charlie Kirk’s spine and shattered.
After the Kirk family re-entered the room, Erika Kirk was looking toward the floor at her lap as McBride finished his closing argument.
Once McBride concluded, Erika Kirk seemed engaged as defense attorney Staci Visser began her closing argument. At one point, Erika Kirk leaned forward and put her head in her hands as Visser described how the bullet entered the left side of her husband’s neck.
She appeared emotional at another point when defense attorney Richard Novak said there was no evidence Robinson had any opinion about her husband and listed at least seven groups of people Charlie Kirk had spoken hatefully about.
Erika Kirk dabbed her eyes with a tissue as Charlie Kirk’s mother leaned toward her, looking at one another as Novak finished his remarks.
Prosecution argues Kirk was a “fluid target” and shooting put nearby crowd at “great risk”
The Utah county prosecution argued that Charlie Kirk was a “fluid target” which meant the shooting posed a “great risk” to the crowed around him.
During his rebuttal to the defense team’s closing arguments, prosecutor, Chad Grunander, said that as attorneys they are allowed to talk about evidence and “the inferences of what would happen.”
Grunander went over the distance between the shooter and Kirk – 415 feet – and the space separating Kirk from the people around himin what he described as a “zone of danger.”
Grunander said the area was “full of people” who were moving and shifting.
“And if your honor watches the videos that were submitted as part of evidence, you can see Mr. Kirk moving, others moving, shifting, turning, stepping forward, stepping back,” he said. “This was a fluid target, and that adds to the danger, the great risk of death here.”
Defense says prosecution made “inflammatory inference” about motive in Kirk shooting
Defense attorney Richard Novak says the court has to determine whether there is probable cause — and whether or not Charlie Kirk “was targeted because of his political expressions” from Tyler Robinson’s perspective.
“And I think the question here, really, which the state can’t answer with reasonable inferences from evidence, is there’s no evidence as to really what was in Mr. Robinson’s mind, if in fact he was the shooter, about Charlie Kirk, because we have no testimony that Mr. Robinson had ever spoken about Charlie Kirk, that he’d ever heard anything he’d said,” Novak said.
He said Robinson’s then-roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, was asked “during his recorded interview whether he’d ever discussed Mr. Kirk with Mr. Robinson. The answer was, ‘No.’”
Novak argued “there is no evidence of Mr. Robinson having heard or seen anything specific from Mr. Kirk, or having expressed anything about Mr. Kirk until the statement, which basically says some hatred can’t be negotiated out. So what is it? Is it political expression? Which political expression?”
Novak said Kirk “spoke hatefully” of certain groups, including those who are gender-nonconforming, “But that doesn’t mean that those personal choices by Mr. Twiggs and by Mr. Robinson equate with the hate that, at least Mr. Robinson says, he had toward Mr. Kirk. So we don’t know what that is. We don’t know.”
“There’s a gap between what it is that Mr. Kirk said and stood for — the phrase in the statute is political expression — and what it is that Mr. Robinson felt about him,” Novak argued. “It’s a significant gap because what it allows the state to do is to make it up! Oh, it must be about this relationship.”
“It must be about this because look at these two young people and the way they live, and that’s an inference without evidence, and it’s a very inflammatory inference,” he continued. “And what makes it even more inflammatory is that the state chose to wrap it in religion.”
Court is back in session and prosecution's rebuttal is underway
Court is back in session and the prosecution is offering a rebuttal following the defense’s closing argument.
Court is taking a 15-minute break
Court is in recess for 15 minutes.
Next up, the prosecution will present a rebuttal to the defense’s arguments.
Texts from Robinson telling roommate to get lawyer are not witness tampering, defense says
The text messages Tyler Robinson sent his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, were taken out of context by prosecutors, defense attorney Richard Novak said.
Robinson is charged with witness tampering, among other charges, in connection to the killing of Charlie Kirk.
“Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff,” one message, sent by Robinson, said. “you are all I worry about love”
“I’m much more worried about you,” Twiggs replied.
“don’t talk to the media please. don’t take any interviews or make any comments. … if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent,” Robinson said.
Case law requires the court to determine if Robinson’s statements were “intended to obstruct justice or were altruistic,” Novak said.
Novak urged the judge to get rid of the witness tampering charge.
Defense says prosecutors are asking the court to speculate, draw inferences from evidence
Defense attorney Staci Visser challenged the prosecution’s framing of its evidence, arguing it relies on speculation.
“I do want to briefly mention the issues in the evidence about the state speculating,” Visser said during closing arguments. “The state asks the court to draw inferences from evidence that appear to have been admitted primarily for the purpose of establishing identity, but is now trying to construe it in such a way that it shows knowledge.”
The defense attorney discussed a few examples, like a screwdriver found on a roof from where Kirk was shot.
Visser also argued the prosecution asked the court to “speculate that with this configuration of gun, that would impact the reliability of the shot, the accuracy of the shot, and then speculate that this individual, the shooter, knew about that. These are not inferences. This is speculation. This is a prime example of speculation.”
She said the prosecution provided evidence of the targets that were found with “perforations” from a gun in the closet of the shared apartment Robinson lived in.
Defense argues that there is "no evidence" others were threatened in Charlie Kirk shooting
The conditions to include “risk of death” as an aggravating circumstance in the charges against Tyler Robinson have not been met, according to defense attorney Staci Visser.
Visser, in her closing argument to the court, pointed to several previous cases that she said established three factors to constitute risk of death: the connection between the killing and endangering other people, the spatial relationship between the victim and other people, and the extent to which other people were threatened.
In the case of Robinson, who is facing charges in connection to the killing of Charlie Kirk, these factors are “clearly not met,” she said.
“In the other cases talking about threats to the third party, we’re looking at multiple gunshots. We’re looking at verbal threats. We’re looking at pointing a firearm at someone. We’re looking at using a device that is more likely to cause injury to multiple people,” she added.
Earlier, Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride argued that it was “common sense” that a bullet could have hit another person when Robinson fired across a crowd of 3,000 people.
Prosecutor: Robinson killed Charlie Kirk “because he disagreed with him”
The prosecution concluded its closing argument moments ago, saying Tyler Robinson shot and killed Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, “because he disagreed with him.”
“He did it by firing a high-powered rifle into a group of thousands who surrounded Charlie Kirk literally on all sides. And he, like any rational person, knew that that would create a great risk of death to all those around Charlie Kirk in the event of any one of a number of likely possibilities,” Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride said.
McBride argued that Robinson created “a great risk” by shooting into a massive crowd, given that he could have missed his target, the bullet could have ricocheted or passed-through and killed “any other people of those people” around Kirk.
“We’d ask the court to bind over the defendant on all charges,” McBride said.
Prosecutor uses attempted Trump assassination to argue Robinson knew risk of death
Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride used the example of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024 to make his case that Tyler Robinson knew there was risk of death during the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.
Trump’s life was saved because he turned his head and the bullet went through his ear, but errant bullets hit other people, one fatally, McBride said.
“Not only is there common sense, but there’s recent precedent,” the prosecutor said. “You shoot at someone in a public assassination attempt, you have a great risk of killing someone else.”
The consequence of missing an intended target is still death, and the defendant did not care that he could kill other people in his mission, the prosecutor added.
“He was prepared to take other shots and let the casualties be what they may,” McBride said.
Prosecution wraps closing arguments and defense team begins speaking
The prosecution has wrapped closing arguments in the preliminary hearing for the case against Tyler Robinson, charged with shooting and killing Charlie Kirk.
Robinson’s defense team is now presenting its closing argument in the preliminary hearing, after which the prosecution will be allowed to speak once more, and the judge will break to consider his ruling.
