A preliminary hearing commenced Monday in Utah’s Fourth District Court for Tyler Robinson, a 23-year-old man accused of fatally shooting conservative political activist Charlie Kirk during a September 2025 rally at Utah Valley University. Robinson faces aggravated murder charges and could receive the death penalty if convicted.
During the first day of testimony, former campus police officer Christopher Bagley recounted the events of September 10, 2025, when Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was killed by a single gunshot while speaking at an outdoor rally that drew thousands of attendees.
Bagley testified that he witnessed Kirk’s arrival at the university for a scheduled meet-and-greet session with supporters before the outdoor event. At approximately 12:23 p.m., while Kirk was answering questions from attendees in the courtyard, Bagley heard a single gunshot that sent the crowd into immediate panic.
The officer described rushing through the fleeing crowd, at times jumping over people climbing stairs to escape the chaos. Initial confusion arose when an individual falsely claimed responsibility for the shooting and was briefly detained. This misdirection temporarily complicated the immediate response, though Bagley focused on securing the scene and searching for casualties.
During his search of the area, Bagley discovered an empty pistol holster near the venue but determined the shot had come from a rifle fired from an eastern direction. His investigation led him to the roof of the nearby Losee Center, which had a clear line of sight to Kirk’s position.
Upon reaching the rooftop at 12:44 p.m., Bagley discovered what he described as evidence of a sniper position. He found a red-and-black screwdriver and observed distinct impressions in the gravel consistent with someone having laid prone, including markings from elbows, feet, and what appeared to be a rifle placement.
Surveillance footage later reviewed by investigators showed an individual crawling on the Losee Center roof before the shooting, then standing and fleeing northeast across the building immediately after the gunshot.
David Hull, a former Utah Bureau of Investigations agent now with the state Department of Public Safety, testified that Robinson was identified as a suspect on September 11, 2025. Investigation revealed that a silver Dodge Challenger associated with Robinson had visited the university campus four times on the day of the shooting.
According to prosecutors, Robinson allegedly confessed or implied his involvement to a family member and left written communications for his roommate. Text messages sent after the shooting directed the roommate to a note in which Robinson reportedly wrote about having an opportunity to ‘take out’ Kirk. Additional digital communications on Discord referenced a rifle drop point and surveillance of the weapon’s location.
Law enforcement recovered a bolt-action rifle from wooded areas near the university, which investigators believe was the weapon used in the fatal shooting.
The preliminary hearing, presided over by Fourth District Judge Tony Graf Jr., will determine whether sufficient probable cause exists to proceed to trial. The proceedings are expected to continue throughout the week.
Among those attending Monday’s hearing were Kirk’s parents, Kathryn and Robert, his widow Erika, and Donald Trump Jr. The case has drawn significant public attention given Kirk’s prominence in conservative political circles and his role in founding the influential student organization Turning Point USA.
Defense attorney Kathy Nester questioned certain aspects of the evidence collection during cross-examination, including the decision not to collect the empty holster found at the scene as evidence.
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