A Utah state investigator told a court that surveillance footage places Tyler Robinson on the campus of Utah Valley University four times on the day conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot, as prosecutors began laying out evidence to support sending the case to trial.
During a preliminary hearing in Provo, investigator David Hull testified that authorities reconstructed Robinson’s movements using security camera footage after he contacted police indicating he was prepared to surrender. According to Hull, the investigation eventually linked a silver Dodge Challenger registered to Robinson with multiple visits to the university on September 10, 2025 — before the shooting, during the incident and after it.
When asked in court whether he could identify the individual seen in the surveillance recordings, Hull pointed toward Robinson, who was seated alongside his defense team, identifying him as the person captured in the footage.
The hearing marks a significant stage in one of the most closely watched criminal cases in the United States. Prosecutors are attempting to establish probable cause for Robinson, 23, to stand trial on allegations that he fired the shot that killed Kirk during a public debate with students at the university. The prosecution has also indicated that it intends to pursue the death penalty if the case proceeds.
Charlie Kirk was addressing students at Utah Valley University when he was shot. His campus appearances had drawn national attention for their debates on political issues and were widely credited by supporters with energizing young conservative voters during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Members of Kirk’s family, including his widow Erika Kirk, attended the hearing. They left the courtroom before prosecutors played graphic videos of the shooting, which had been recorded by bystanders, surveillance cameras and an event videographer. The recordings were not shown on the public livestream after prosecutors argued that the footage was too disturbing for public release.
Robinson’s relatives were also present in court, along with Donald Trump Jr., who observed the proceedings.
The court also heard testimony from Chris Bagley, a university police officer who responded immediately after the shooting. Bagley said he rushed to a campus building believed to be the source of the gunfire and climbed to the rooftop, where he noticed marks in the gravel resembling impressions left by elbows, knees and feet.
Bagley testified that the scene appeared consistent with someone having positioned themselves to fire from the rooftop. He further stated that campus security footage showed an individual lying in position before taking a shot, then fleeing across the roof, dropping to the ground below and escaping.
During cross-examination, Robinson’s defense focused on potential weaknesses in the investigation and campus security measures. Bagley acknowledged that only six university police officers were assigned to duty that day in addition to Kirk’s private security personnel. He also confirmed that although he noticed an empty pistol holster near the area where Kirk was shot, it was never collected as evidence.
If the judge concludes that prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence to establish probable cause, Robinson will be formally arraigned and asked to enter a plea before the case moves toward trial. He currently faces seven criminal charges, including aggravated murder.
