Charlie Kirk's Family Seeks Justice in Ongoing Legal Battle
WHO:
CNN - Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was killed.
CNN - Tyler Robinson, a 23-year-old man, is accused of killing Charlie Kirk.
CNN - Judge Tony Graf is presiding over the preliminary hearing.
CNN - Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s former roommate and romantic partner, is a key witness.
CNN - Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, is leading Turning Point USA.
WHAT:
CNN - Prosecutors presented a previously recorded video interview with Lance Twiggs, where he stated, "He started crying a little bit and said he wishes he hadn’t done it," referring to Robinson's remorse after the shooting.
CNN - Surveillance footage allegedly showed Tyler Robinson running across the rooftop of the Losee Center at 12:22 p.m., just one minute before Kirk was shot at 12:23 p.m.
CNN - The defense questioned the forensic evidence and highlighted that a bullet jacket fragment recovered from Kirk’s body "could not be identified or excluded" as having been fired from the rifle.
CNN - An ATF DNA analysis revealed it was "at least 1 trillion times more likely" that Robinson contributed DNA to samples taken from the rifle.
CNN - The Kirks filed a request for a “prompt” ruling on whether the case can proceed to trial, stating it is based on the "overwhelming evidence presented."
CNN - Prosecutors presented a note from Robinson that read, in part: "If you are reading this per my text, then I am so sorry. I left the house this morning on a mission, and set an auto text. I am likely dead, or facing a lengthy prison sentence. I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it."
CNN - Twiggs described finding the note from Robinson, which was entered into evidence and read aloud in court.
CNN - The rifle found near campus contained one spent cartridge casing and three unfired rounds, each engraved with messages.
CNN - An ATF analysis concluded that the cartridge casings found inside Robinson’s home had been fired by the rifle found near campus.
CNN - The ATF analysis also determined that the recovered Dremel tool made the engravings on the cartridges found with the rifle and inside Robinson’s home.
CNN - The defense questioned the forensic evidence and highlighted potential leads that were discarded during the investigation.
CNN - The Kirks released a statement saying, "As difficult as these last few days have been, it brings our family comfort to know that the world has witnessed the overwhelming evidence of what occurred to Charlie that day."
CNN - The preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson lasted five days.
CNN - Prosecutors displayed campus surveillance video, alleged messages from Robinson described as a confession, and a videotaped interview with Twiggs.
CNN - The charges against Robinson include aggravated murder, felony use of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and committing a violent act in the presence of a child.
CNN - Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty against Robinson.
CNN - Kirk was shot in front of about 3,000 people during a Turning Point USA event.
CNN - Kirk was killed on September 10, 2025.
CNN - Robinson turned himself in to police the day after the shooting.
US Magazine - The preliminary hearing concluded on July 10, and court proceedings are set to resume on September 1.
WHERE:
CNN - The preliminary hearing took place in Provo, Utah.
CNN - The shooting occurred at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
WHEN:
US Magazine - Court proceedings are set to resume on September 1, when both sides will make their oral arguments.
CNN - The judge is expected to rule on the case after oral arguments scheduled in early September.
CNN - The shooting occurred on September 10, 2025.
US Magazine - The preliminary hearing concluded on July 10.
WHY:
CNN - The Kirks expressed a desire for transparency in the courtroom to combat conspiracy theories about Kirk’s death.
HOW:
CNN - Prosecutors presented surveillance footage showing Robinson's movements on campus before and after the shooting.
CNN - Robinson allegedly expressed remorse in a recorded interview with Twiggs.
CNN - DNA testing linked Robinson to the alleged murder weapon, a Mauser Model 98 .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle.
CNN - The rifle was found wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near campus.
(UPDATED July 11, 2026 18:11 UTC)
Prosecutors presented a recorded video interview with Lance Twiggs, in which he expressed remorse, saying he wished he hadn’t shot Robinson. Surveillance footage showed Tyler Robinson running across the rooftop of the Losee Center just one minute before the shooting, while an ATF DNA analysis indicated it was "at least 1 trillion times more likely" that Robinson contributed DNA found on the rifle. The Kirks have requested a prompt ruling on whether the case can proceed to trial, with court proceedings set to resume on September 1, when both sides will make their oral arguments.
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(UPDATED July 11, 2026 11:19 UTC)
In a dramatic turn in court, prosecutors presented a chilling note from Robinson that expressed remorse and indicated he had a mission involving Charlie Kirk. The note was read aloud by Twiggs, who also described the rifle found near campus, which contained one spent cartridge casing and three unfired rounds, each engraved with messages. Meanwhile, the Kirks released a statement expressing their comfort in knowing that the overwhelming evidence of what happened to Charlie has been witnessed by the world, while the defense raised questions about the forensic evidence and highlighted potential leads that were overlooked during the investigation.
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(UPDATED July 11, 2026 10:21 UTC)
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was tragically killed, and Tyler Robinson, a 23-year-old man, is accused of his murder. The preliminary hearing for Robinson, which lasted five days in Provo, Utah, concluded recently, with prosecutors presenting compelling evidence, including surveillance footage and alleged confessions, while they plan to seek the death penalty against him. Court proceedings will resume on September 1, when Judge Tony Graf is expected to rule on the case, as the Kirks continue to advocate for transparency to address conspiracy theories surrounding Kirk's death.