Kirk Assassination Hearing: Suspect Confessed to Family, Investigator Testifies
PROVO, Utah — The preliminary hearing for Tyler James Robinson, the 23-year-old accused of assassinating conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, entered its second day on Tuesday with explosive testimony from a lead investigator who revealed that Robinson admitted his involvement in the murder to his own family. The week-long probable cause proceeding before Fourth District Judge Tony Graf is expected to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to send Robinson to trial on charges that include aggravated murder.
Key Day 2 Developments
Investigator David Hull, formerly with the Utah State Bureau of Investigation, testified that Robinson told his family he was involved in the killing of Kirk, according to the New York Post. The admission came as prosecutors presented a detailed timeline of Robinson’s movements on September 10, 2025, the day Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at an outdoor debate event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Surveillance footage played in court showed Robinson arriving on campus hours before the shooting, leaving, and then returning wearing different clothes with a noticeably stiff gait — which investigators allege was caused by the rifle he was carrying. Hull testified that Robinson even ate lunch at a Chick-Fil-A on campus moments before the assassination.
A car registered to Robinson was captured on video leaving the university after the shooting, Hull testified. The defense cross-examined Hull, questioning evidence about a bullet found on another rooftop — which investigators determined was from a security officer — and a possible handgun recovered from the scene.
The Case Against Robinson
Robinson faces 10 counts including aggravated murder, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. He has not yet entered a plea. The hearing is a probable cause proceeding with a lower standard of proof than a trial; prosecutors need only show reasonable grounds to believe Robinson committed the crime for the case to proceed to trial.
According to Townhall, prosecutors have described a mountain of evidence they plan to introduce, including video of the shooting, DNA evidence linking Robinson to the murder weapon, testimony from investigators, autopsy findings, witness statements, and a recorded statement from Robinson’s former roommate and romantic partner detailing an alleged confession.
Prosecutors previously revealed that Robinson allegedly left a note for his roommate reading, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” along with text messages in which he said he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Courtroom Drama and Evidentiary Battles
Judge Graf ruled against the defense on multiple evidentiary objections on Tuesday, allowing CCTV videos showing Robinson’s movements to be shown in court. The defense has long pushed to keep graphic images of Kirk’s murder out of public view, arguing they could prejudice the jury pool.
On Monday, the first day of the hearing, Erika Kirk — Charlie Kirk’s widow — was forced to leave the courtroom before prosecutors played three videos showing the moment her husband was fatally shot in the neck. Kirk’s parents, Robert and Kathryn, also attended the hearing, sitting alongside their daughter-in-law.
In a family statement released Monday, Erika Kirk said: “Charlie was a beloved husband, son, brother, friend, and father. Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his children.”
Background: The Assassination
Charlie Kirk, 31, was a prominent conservative political activist and founder of Turning Point USA, described by Fox News as a close ally of President Donald Trump and a highly influential figure in the MAGA movement. On September 10, 2025, while speaking at an outdoor campus debate at Utah Valley University with approximately 3,000 people in attendance, Kirk was shot in the neck with a single bullet by a sniper positioned on the roof of the Losee Center building approximately 142 yards away.
A Mauser Model 98 bolt-action rifle chambered in .30-06 was recovered from a wooded area near the shooting, along with engraved cartridges bearing internet memes and anti-fascist references. Robinson surrendered to law enforcement on September 11, 2025, ending a 33-hour manhunt.
Security Failures and Broader Context
The assassination exposed significant security failures at the event. According to Wikipedia, metal detectors were not used for entry, ticketing was not enforced despite the event being ticketed, and rooftop exposure had been identified as a vulnerability beforehand. Security was provided by six police officers and Kirk’s private security personnel.
Kirk’s assassination occurred during a period of escalating political violence in the United States, following a series of high-profile incidents including shootings of Democratic Minnesota legislators, the killing of Israeli embassy staffers in Washington D.C., and two assassination attempts on Donald Trump in 2024.
What’s Next
The preliminary hearing is expected to last five days. The Utah Supreme Court has not yet ruled on two additional defense petitions — one seeking to block certain hearsay evidence and another challenging the requirement for key witness Lance Twiggs to testify in person. If the judge finds probable cause, the case will proceed to trial, where Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted.
Both families are expected to continue attending the proceedings as the court weighs the evidence in what has become one of the most closely scrutinized murder cases in recent American history.