DNA Evidence Links Tyler Robinson and Lance Twiggs to Shooting Scene

WHO:

Fox News - Tyler Robinson was wearing a gray suit, pink shirt, and black tie during the preliminary hearing.

Fox News - Judge Tony Graf Jr. flinched and leaned away from the screen when the sound of the fatal gunshot rang out in one of the videos shown in court.

Fox News - Charlie Kirk's family attended the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, including his parents Robert W. Kirk and Kathryn Kirk.

PBS - Defense attorney Michael Burt is questioning the reliability of DNA testing linking Robinson to the murder weapon.

Fox News - Charlie Kirk's parents, Robert W. Kirk and Kathryn Kirk, attended the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson.

Fox News - Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina with the State Bureau of Investigations testified during the hearing.

Fox News - Tyler Robinson, 23, is accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk.

Fox News - Lance Twiggs is identified as Robinson's lover.

Fox News - Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull testified in court.

Fox News - Judge Tony Graf Jr. presided over the hearing.

WHAT:

Fox News - Videos shown during the hearing included images of Kirk’s death that were not shown publicly in court but were shown to the judge and attorneys for both sides.

Fox News - The screwdriver was found near an alleged sniper’s perch overlooking the Turning Point USA event.

Fox News - The preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson is expected to last a week.

PBS - Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Tyler Robinson, who faces charges including aggravated murder.

Fox News - Tyler Robinson is accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.

PBS - Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty in the case against Robinson.

PBS - A handwritten note allegedly left by Robinson for Twiggs read: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it."

Fox News - A former UVU police officer testified about discovering a "sniper pad" near the scene of the shooting.

Fox News - Surveillance video allegedly shows Tyler Robinson making his way around the Utah Valley University campus before and after the shooting.

Fox News - A handwritten note and text messages indicate that Robinson confessed to the crime to Lance Twiggs, who is cooperating with investigators.

Fox News - FBI forensic analyst Amanda Bakker testified that Robinson is likely the majority donor in mixed DNA samples found on the towel and screwdriver, while Twiggs is believed to be the minority contributor.

Fox News - A towel and screwdriver recovered during the investigation had DNA consistent with Tyler Robinson and Lance Twiggs.

Fox News - The suspected murder weapon, a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle, was found wrapped in a dark-colored towel near the scene.

Fox News - A preliminary hearing is taking place to determine if Robinson will stand trial for Kirk's murder.

NY Post - DNA likely matching Tyler Robinson and Lance Twiggs was found on a towel wrapped around a rifle near the scene of the shooting.

Fox News - Videos of Kirk’s shooting death were played during the hearing, including the moment a sniper’s bullet struck Kirk in the neck.

WHERE:

Fox News - The courtroom is located in Provo, Utah.

WHEN:

Fox News - The preliminary hearing is expected to last a week.

NY Post - The FBI report was shown during the second day of the hearing.

WHY:

Fox News - Prosecutors must establish probable cause for Robinson to stand trial on charges including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty.

NY Post - The hearing is to determine if there is sufficient evidence for Robinson to stand trial for the murder of Charlie Kirk.

HOW:

PBS - Defense lawyer Michael Burt argued that the DNA analyst could not definitively match Robinson to the questioned samples.

PBS - Prosecutors intend to continue questioning the reliability of DNA testing during the preliminary hearing.

PBS - FBI analyst Amanda Bakker testified that after Robinson's roommate provided a DNA sample, she was able to rerun her tests and attribute all of the DNA to two people.

PBS - Surveillance video shown in court depicted Robinson climbing over a railing onto a rooftop, crouching down, and running to a site overlooking where Kirk was speaking.

Fox News - Robinson allegedly used the towel to conceal the suspected murder weapon in the woods near Utah Valley University.

Fox News - Robinson and Twiggs provided buccal swabs to law enforcement to build their full DNA profiles.

NY Post - DNA evidence was collected from items near the crime scene, specifically a towel wrapped around a rifle.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 00:20 UTC)

During a preliminary hearing, Tyler Robinson was seen wearing a gray suit, pink shirt, and black tie, while Judge Tony Graf Jr. visibly flinched when a video of the fatal gunshot was played in court. The videos included previously unseen images of Kirk’s death, and a screwdriver was discovered near an alleged sniper’s perch overlooking a Turning Point USA event. Defense lawyer Michael Burt challenged the DNA analyst's ability to definitively link Robinson to the questioned samples, as prosecutors plan to further scrutinize the reliability of DNA testing throughout the hearing.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 22:21 UTC)

The preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson is underway and is expected to last a week, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty for him on charges that include aggravated murder. During the hearing, defense attorney Michael Burt is questioning the reliability of DNA testing that links Robinson to the murder weapon, while FBI analyst Amanda Bakker testified that she was able to attribute all of the DNA found to two individuals after rerunning tests on a sample provided by Robinson's roommate. Charlie Kirk's family, including his parents Robert and Kathryn Kirk, attended the hearing to show their support.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 19:25 UTC)

Tyler Robinson is accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, and prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty in this case. Surveillance video presented in court shows Robinson climbing over a railing onto a rooftop, crouching down, and running to a location where Kirk was speaking. Additionally, a handwritten note allegedly left by Robinson for Twiggs stated, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it."

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 14:46 UTC)

A former police officer from Utah Valley University testified about finding a "sniper pad" near the shooting scene, while surveillance video reportedly shows Tyler Robinson moving around the campus before and after the incident. Evidence, including a handwritten note and text messages, suggests that Robinson confessed to the crime to Lance Twiggs, who is now cooperating with investigators. Additionally, an FBI forensic analyst indicated that Robinson is likely the primary contributor of mixed DNA found on a towel and screwdriver, as prosecutors work to establish probable cause for his trial on charges that include aggravated murder, which could lead to the death penalty.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 05:55 UTC)

In a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, his parents, Robert and Kathryn Kirk, were present as Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina from the State Bureau of Investigations testified. During the proceedings, investigators revealed that a towel and screwdriver found at the scene contained DNA consistent with both Robinson and Lance Twiggs, while the suspected murder weapon, a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle, was discovered wrapped in a dark-colored towel nearby. Authorities allege that Robinson used the towel to hide the rifle in the woods close to Utah Valley University, and both he and Twiggs provided buccal swabs to help establish their complete DNA profiles.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 02:59 UTC)

Tyler Robinson, 23, is accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, and a preliminary hearing is underway in Provo, Utah, to determine if he will stand trial for the murder. During the hearing, DNA likely matching Robinson and his lover, Lance Twiggs, was found on a towel wrapped around a rifle near the scene, and videos of Kirk’s shooting death were played, showing the moment a sniper’s bullet struck him in the neck. The hearing is expected to last a week, with evidence including an FBI report presented on the second day.