New surveillance footage provides the clearest picture yet of what an investigator claims Tyler Robinson did just hours before the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Videos played in court show Robinson, now 23, at the Utah Valley University campus on Sept. 10, 2025, before leaving, returning, and finally climbing to a rooftop, former Utah state investigator David Hull testified Tuesday.
DNA Evidence and Key Testimony
Prosecutors also presented an FBI report determining that DNA samples likely matching Robinson and Lance Twiggs were discovered on a towel wrapped under the gun near the campus, as well as on a screwdriver found on the roof where Robinson allegedly fired at Kirk. Hull claimed Robinson, who lived three hours away, roamed the campus, made contact with Turning Point USA representatives, and stopped for lunch at Chick-fil-A before returning in different clothes and walking with a noticeable limp. Law enforcement sources previously indicated investigators believe the limp was due to a rifle hidden under his clothing.
Video Evidence in Court
In one clip, Hull testified: “This is Mr. Robinson returning to the campus on foot. … You can see he is wearing the same clothing as in the previous video. … It’s a maroon colored t-shirt … and then Converse shoes.” When asked why he believes a separate clip showing an individual in different attire depicts the suspect, Hull stated: “The shoes are the same. And the images that we have are, from my viewing and seeing Mr. Robinson on the video, it’s the same person. … He is wearing different clothing, and he also is walking with a gait or a limp in this video.” District Judge Tony Graf ruled against defense objections to showing the videos in court.
Preliminary Hearing and Defense Objections
The footage and testimony came on the second day of the preliminary hearing to determine if Robinson will stand trial for the murder, with no plea deal announced. Prosecutors are set to present scores of items of evidence, including a video interview of Twiggs, to whom Robinson allegedly confessed in text messages after the incident. The defense moved to block videos of Kirk’s death and of their client’s movements, claiming they could prejudice potential jurors and violate victim rights. They also pushed to exclude media cameras from the courtroom, but Judge Graf has so far sided with the state, choosing only to prevent the broadcasting of certain graphic images.
Family and Courtroom Presence
The victim's widow, Erika Kirk, who has taken over leadership of the grassroots organization as CEO, entered the courthouse through a private entrance Tuesday. Monday marked her first time coming face-to-face with the accused, and she rushed out of the courtroom before videos of the shooting were displayed. Robinson occasionally smiled while talking to his lawyers and took notes during cross-examination. In addition to his widow and his parents, Kathryn and Robert Kirk, close associates Donald Trump Jr., Bettina Anderson, and Jack Posobiec were present in court.
Statement from the Kirk Family
In a statement released ahead of the hearing, the Kirk family expressed their grief: “We remain deeply grateful for the support, prayers, and kindness we have received. This outpouring has sustained us during the darkest days of our lives. Out of respect for the judicial process, we will not be commenting further at this time. We ask for continued privacy as we navigate this process and immense grief.”
Next Steps in the Case
The proceeding continues as prosecutors attempt to prove sufficient evidence exists to advance the case to trial. Robinson faces the death penalty if tried and convicted.
