Tyler Robinson to face trial in Charlie Kirk assassination as judge keeps death penalty on table
Summary
A Utah judge ruled Tuesday that Tyler Robinson will stand trial on seven charges, including aggravated murder, after prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to support a reasonable belief he shot and killed Charlie Kirk. Judge Tony Graf found probable cause for the victim-targeting allegation, allowing the death penalty to remain on the table. Robinson pleaded not guilty to all charges during the hearing in Provo. Graf emphasized that the standard at a preliminary hearing is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt, but whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial. The judge also denied a defense motion to remove cameras from the courtroom, citing the intense publicity surrounding the case. Prosecutors have accused Robinson of firing the fatal shot from an elevated position during the Sept. 10, 2025, shooting at a Turning Point USA event in Orem, Utah.
Key points
- Judge Tony Graf ruled Tuesday that Tyler Robinson will stand trial on all seven charges, including aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm.
- The judge found probable cause for the victim-targeting allegation, allowing prosecutors to continue seeking the death penalty.
- Robinson pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his defense waived a formal reading of the charges during the arraignment.
- The charges include two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and a Class A misdemeanor for committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.
- Judge Graf denied a defense motion to remove cameras from the courtroom, subjecting them to restrictions in his decorum order.
Timeline
Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a Turning Point USA event in Orem, Utah.
Judge Tony Graf ruled that Tyler Robinson will stand trial on all seven charges.
“"Viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, this evidence is sufficient at this stage to support a reasonable belief that the defendant is the individual who shot and killed Charlie Kirk," Judge Tony Graf said.”
Background
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was 31 years old when he was assassinated during his "American Comeback Tour" in Orem, Utah.
Why it matters
The case is a high-profile capital murder trial that will test Utah's death penalty laws and the legal process in the face of intense media scrutiny.