Tyler Robinson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk after a Utah judge ruled prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed.
Utah District Judge Tony Graf also ruled that the aggravated murder charge is eligible for the death penalty in Utah. The ruling means prosecutors can continue seeking a death sentence if Robinson is convicted. It does not determine Robinson's guilt.
Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck on 10 September 2025 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem. He was addressing a crowd of more than 3,000 people.
Prosecutors say Robinson fired a single shot from a rooftop more than 400 feet away. Judge Graf found probable cause for an aggravating circumstance involving the alleged risk to other people at the crowded campus event, allowing prosecutors to pursue the death penalty.
The ruling followed a five-day preliminary hearing in July, when prosecutors presented their evidence. Robinson, a former apprentice electrician, turned himself in the day after the murder in the company of his family and a neighbour.
Prosecutors said Robinson's DNA was found on his grandfather's rifle, on a towel in which the rifle was wrapped and on a screwdriver recovered at the scene. They also said engravings on casings from the shooting allegedly matched a Dremel tool recovered at the home Robinson shared with his roommate, Lance Twiggs.
The defence focused primarily on challenging the validity of DNA evidence said to link Robinson to the murder weapon.
Prosecutor Ryan McBride alleged that Robinson targeted Kirk because of Kirk's political views against same-sex marriage and transgender rights.
Prosecutors also cited a text message in which Robinson allegedly told Twiggs that he shot Kirk because 'some hate can't be negotiated out'.
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA, and his widow, Erika, now leads the organisation. A pretrial conference is scheduled for 23 October, when a trial date is expected to be set.
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