DNA Links Suspects to Charlie Kirk Assassination in Utah
FBI forensic analysts have linked DNA from Tyler Robinson and his former roommate Lance Twiggs to key evidence recovered near the alleged sniper’s perch used in the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, prosecutors revealed Wednesday during the third day of a preliminary hearing in Provo, Utah.
FBI forensic analyst Amanda Bakker testified that Robinson is the majority DNA donor on a towel and screwdriver found near the rooftop position overlooking Utah Valley University’s outdoor amphitheater, where Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2025. Twiggs, who has been cooperating with investigators, is believed to be the minority contributor on both items, according to Fox News.
The Assassination
Kirk, 31, was shot once in the neck while debating a student about mass shootings during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The conservative activist and CEO of Turning Point USA was addressing a crowd of approximately 3,000 people when the single gunshot struck him. He was rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead.
The suspected murder weapon — a Mauser Model 98 bolt-action rifle chambered in .30-06 and retrofitted with a scope — was found wrapped in a dark-colored towel in a wooded area near the campus. A screwdriver was recovered from the rooftop of the Losee Center building, where investigators say Robinson positioned himself approximately 430 feet from Kirk before firing.
The Evidence
Prosecutors allege Robinson confessed in a handwritten note left for Twiggs that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” Text messages reportedly show Robinson told Twiggs he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.”
Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina of the Utah State Bureau of Investigations testified that her evidence response team recovered both the towel and screwdriver, and subsequent testing revealed DNA consistent with the same two males — Robinson and Twiggs. Both men provided buccal swabs to law enforcement to build their full DNA profiles, as reported by AP News.
Defense Challenges
Defense attorney Michael Burt aggressively challenged the reliability of the FBI’s DNA testing methodology during cross-examination of Bakker, arguing that the analyst could not definitively match Robinson to the questioned samples.
“She can’t match Mr. Robinson to the questioned samples,” Burt argued in court.
Prosecutor Ryan McBride countered that the preliminary hearing’s lower evidentiary standard — probable cause — was not the appropriate venue for a full-scale challenge to DNA methodology. “The point is there are explanations that are susceptible to different interpretations and arguments,” McBride said, adding that a full expert hearing on the matter would be appropriate at trial.
Legal Stakes
Robinson faces 10 counts including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty under Utah law. Prosecutors argue the shooting endangered thousands of attendees at the campus event — an aggravating circumstance that could make the crime punishable by death. Utah’s execution methods include lethal injection or firing squad.
Judge Tony Graf Jr. of Utah’s Fourth District Court will determine at the conclusion of the five-day hearing whether prosecutors have established probable cause to proceed to trial. Robinson has not yet entered a plea.
Legal experts widely expect the prosecution to clear the probable cause hurdle. “This seems like the proverbial slam dunk at this stage of the case,” Paul Cassell, a University of Utah law professor and former federal judge, told CBS News. Mark Kouris, a former prosecutor, added: “This standard is extremely low and the chances of them not getting through it are, quite frankly, almost nothing.”
Broader Context
Kirk’s assassination occurred amid a period of escalating political violence in the United States. The Trump administration subsequently called for a crackdown on political extremism, and Kirk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His memorial service was held at State Farm Stadium in Arizona on September 21, 2025, drawing thousands of mourners.
Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, has been attending the preliminary hearing alongside her husband’s parents. At a December CBS News town hall, when asked if she had words for the accused killer, she replied: “Nothing. I have nothing to say to you. Nothing.” She has previously stated she forgives Robinson but still seeks justice.
What’s Next
The preliminary hearing is expected to continue through Friday, July 10. Judge Graf’s ruling on probable cause is anticipated shortly thereafter. If the case proceeds to trial, Robinson would be asked to enter a plea, and the defense’s challenge to the DNA evidence would likely become a central battleground.