The family of Charlie Kirk came face to face with his accused assassin for the first time Monday in a Utah courtroom, as the start of a weeklong preliminary hearing unfolded in Provo. Tyler Robinson, 23, appeared in a gray suit, pink shirt and black tie, with his wrists and ankles cuffed, before members of the media were allowed into the room. The hearing marks a critical step in the case against Robinson, who is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10, 2025, shooting death of Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.
During the proceedings, prosecutors played videos that included audio of the fatal gunshot that struck Kirk in the neck. While Judge Tony Graf Jr. flinched and leaned away from the screen when the shot rang out, Robinson showed no visible response. Kirk’s family had already left the courtroom before the graphic videos were shown, having been warned in advance about the disturbing evidence. They left twice during the hearing ahead of mentions of the assassination itself.
Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, sat alongside her in-laws, Rob and Kathy Kirk, throughout much of the hearing. The trio watched the proceedings closely, occasionally exchanging looks or glancing downward. Other relatives present included Erika’s sister, Tonya, and a niece and nephew. The family was joined by several high-profile supporters, including Donald Trump Jr., his wife Bettina, and conservative commentators Jack Posobiec and Brandon Tatum, who sat near the front of the courtroom.
Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull testified about the autopsy report, which listed Kirk’s death as a homicide by a gunshot wound to the neck. During that testimony, Robinson’s mother leaned over to her husband and placed her hand on his shoulder. Robinson’s parents, who typically sit in the front row, were seated in the fourth row Monday with other relatives.
The first witness of the day was Officer Christopher Bagley, now with the Spanish Fork Police Department. Bagley was working at Utah Valley University on the day of the shooting and testified that he believed he heard a rifle shot, not a pistol shot, coming from the direction of the Losee Center. He said he reached that conclusion after seeing an empty handgun holster on the ground amid the chaos and noticing that the Losee Center rooftop had a clear line of sight to where Kirk was speaking. Bagley went to the rooftop, where he found a black and red screwdriver and impressions in the gravel that he described as resembling a “sniper’s pad.” He also reviewed surveillance video showing the suspect on the roof and found footprints in the grass where the suspect dropped down, along with scuff marks on the roof above.
Defense attorney Kathy Nester cross-examined Bagley for about 10 minutes before a lunch recess. She asked whether his police report from the day mentioned the direction from which the shot came. Bagley acknowledged it did not. He also said he did not know what happened to the handgun holster. Later, when prosecutors sought to play UVU surveillance video, Robinson’s defense objected. Judge Graf overruled most objections throughout the day but sustained this one, ruling that the video — which included face blurs, zooms and red circles — had not been properly authenticated. Prosecutors said they planned to provide an unedited version later.
Other video shown Monday included footage of a vehicle alleged to be Robinson’s coming and going from a house near the UVU campus after midnight on Sept. 11, about 12 hours after the shooting. As previously reported, Robinson also allegedly had an encounter with law enforcement in the area hours after the murder. During the week, the court is expected to hear a recorded statement from Robinson’s former lover, Lance Twiggs, who prosecutors allege received a written confession after the crime.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea. He faces the death penalty if convicted of the top charge against him, aggravated murder. The preliminary hearing is expected to continue Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. MT, with Hull resuming testimony and additional witnesses to be called.