The 23‑year‑old Tyler Robinson allegedly walked around the Utah Valley University campus, dined at Chick‑fil‑A and interacted with Charlie Kirk’s staff before shooting the conservative activist.
Robinson was seen four hours before the fatal attack, wearing a T‑shirt and shorts, according to surveillance footage. Prosecutors say he approached members of Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization.
In the hours leading to the shooting, cameras captured Robinson heading toward the university’s Losee Building, climbing a railing onto a rooftop, and later running across the roof while holding an unknown object. A rifle was recovered in a wooded area near where he allegedly entered.
After the attack, Robinson returned to the campus. An officer briefly interacted with the suspect while a manhunt was underway early on September 11. Reports indicate that he tried driving a gray Dodge Challenger toward campus but was forced to exit after speaking with police.
Robinson’s defense team, led by attorney Kathy Nester, has sought to exclude much of the evidence and has challenged the use of the death penalty. They argue that the forensic analysis of DNA on a screwdriver, rifle, and towel was inconclusive, and that witnesses have described a different suspect on the rooftop.
Prosecutors introduced an FBI report linking the recovered DNA to Robinson, his roommate, and his romantic partner. The defense’s FBI forensic analyst called the DNA report into question, highlighting potential errors in testing protocols.
The preliminary hearing, set to finish in Friday, will not decide guilt or innocence but will determine whether the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
