PROVO, UTAH — A preliminary hearing is underway in Provo, Utah, for Tyler Robinson, charged with the aggravated murder of Charlie Kirk. Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University.

Robinson turned himself in one day after the shooting and has not entered a plea. The hearing is being held at the Fourth District Courthouse with State District Judge Tony Graf presiding. Following scheduled oral arguments, Graf will decide whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial after September 1, 2026.

On July 9, 2026, defense attorney Michael Burt challenged the reliability of ballistics tests on a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk's body. Test results attempting to link the fragment to the suspected murder weapon were inconclusive. Samantha Karner, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent, stated, "Saying anything but inconclusive was inappropriate." Burt also questioned the reliability of DNA evidence connecting Robinson to the scene.

Prosecutors played a recorded interview with Lance Twiggs, Robinson's roommate and romantic partner, who was granted immunity in exchange for his statements. In the interview, Twiggs said Robinson told him, "He wishes he hadn't done it," the day after the shooting. Text messages Robinson sent to Twiggs about engraving bullets were displayed in the courtroom. Prosecutors stated that ammunition recovered from the gun used in the shooting had engravings reading "Hey Facist! Catch!" and "If you Read This, You Are GAY."

Robinson posted "It was me at UVU yesterday" in a Discord chat room approximately one hour before he surrendered. Defense attorneys argued against the public release of Twiggs' statements and the Discord messages, claiming it would impede Robinson's right to a fair trial. Graf permitted a redacted version of Twiggs' video interview to be played, with certain parts blacked out and only audio used.

Prosecutors contend the shooting created a danger for others at the campus event, an aggravating circumstance that could make the crime punishable by death under Utah law. They also claim Robinson targeted Kirk due to his political views, which could lead to sentence enhancements. Twiggs stated in an April interview that Robinson sometimes discussed politics, including Donald Trump, but he had never heard Robinson mention Kirk before the shooting. Twiggs also stated that Robinson did not frequently discuss gender issues or LGBTQ rights. The defense is scheduled to call a final witness on Friday, July 10, 2026.