Charlie Kirk hearing today: New video traces Tyler Robinson's alleged route

Last updated: July 7, 2026, 3:10 PM EDT

Inside a warm Provo courtroom, prosecutors played surveillance footage while Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, wiped her eyes. The second day of the preliminary hearing focused on his alleged movements across Utah Valley University before and after Kirk was killed. Investigators said the video showed Robinson arriving hours earlier, reaching a rooftop and later fleeing, while the defense challenged how the footage was authenticated and presented.

How Events Unfolded

Former State Bureau of Investigation agent David Hull narrated a compilation of campus surveillance clips. According to his testimony, Robinson drove into a parking garage, walked across campus with a backpack, bought a meal at Chick-fil-A and later left campus. Hull said Robinson returned in different clothing, walked with a limp and moved toward the Losee building, where video showed an individual climbing onto the roof.

Hull testified that the person ran across the roof and lay prone near a corner overlooking the event area. After the shooting, the individual lowered himself from the building and left carrying something. Investigators later recovered a bolt-action rifle with one spent round, wrapped in a towel, from woods where Hull said Robinson had been seen entering twice.

The defense pressed Hull on gaps in his direct knowledge. Attorney Kathryn Nester noted that he did not attend Kirk's autopsy or personally handle the gun's processing and shipping. She also questioned conflicting descriptions from witnesses and doorbell-camera footage, while rooftop video did not show distinguishing facial features.

Judge Tony Graf allowed the main compilation video to be shown publicly after balancing the defense's fair-trial concerns against courtroom transparency. A second, enhanced version with circles, zooms and other alterations was admitted for the judge's review but not shown to the public or media.

Digging Deeper

This week's proceeding is not the murder trial. Prosecutors must show reasonable grounds to believe Robinson committed the killing and should stand trial, a lower standard than proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Robinson, 23, has not entered a plea.

The court also debated a statement from Turning Point USA board member David Englehardt. Prosecutors argued it could help establish motive and support a Utah victim-targeting penalty enhancement tied to political expression. The defense argued the statement reflected Englehardt's views and was not relevant. Graf provisionally admitted it and said he would decide later whether it should be fully accepted.

Preliminary hearing

A proceeding used to decide whether prosecutors have enough evidence to move a criminal case toward trial.

Probable cause

The lower evidentiary threshold prosecutors must meet at this stage.

Penalty enhancement

A provision that can increase punishment when specified aggravating circumstances are proved.

What People Are Saying

Denae Branch, who said she was in the crowd when Kirk was shot, lined up around midnight for one of only 14 public seats. She described the hearing as part of an ongoing effort to process what happened.

“It feels like a lot of the world just kept spinning and we're still dealing with the trauma of it.”

Former prosecutor and state judge Mark Kouris said the legal threshold for advancing the case is extremely low. Separately, defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh argued on NewsNation that a plea agreement could become a path to avoiding a death-penalty trial, though no agreement has been announced.

Putting It in Perspective

The hearing is offering the public the most detailed court presentation yet of the state's case. Prosecutors are trying to connect video, physical evidence and alleged statements into one timeline, while the defense is testing whether each link is reliable enough to use.

The media-access fight adds another consequence. Graf has allowed cameras for much of the hearing but restricted graphic material and some enhanced footage, reflecting the public's interest in seeing the evidence and the defense's concern about a future jury pool.

The death-penalty question raises the stakes further. Prosecutors say the shooting endangered others at the campus event, which they contend could qualify as an aggravating circumstance under Utah law. Robinson's defense has tried to remove the death penalty from the case but has not succeeded so far.

Looking Ahead

The preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue through Friday. According to the evidence schedule described in court coverage, prosecutors are expected to present recorded testimony from Robinson's former roommate, video from the day Robinson turned himself in, DNA evidence tied to the suspected weapon, autopsy findings and witness statements.

Judge Graf will then decide whether there is enough evidence for Robinson to stand trial. He also must resolve outstanding evidentiary questions, including whether the Turning Point USA statement should remain in the record.

FAQ

Is Tyler Robinson on trial for Charlie Kirk's killing right now?

No. This is a preliminary hearing to decide whether prosecutors have enough evidence to move the aggravated murder case toward trial.

What new evidence was shown on July 7?

Prosecutors showed surveillance footage that investigators said traced Robinson's movements across Utah Valley University, including an alleged route to and from a rooftop.

What did investigators say about the weapon?

Investigators said they recovered a bolt-action rifle with one spent round, wrapped in a towel, from nearby woods.

Why is the death penalty part of the case?

Prosecutors say the shooting endangered others at the campus event, which they argue could support an aggravating circumstance.

What happens next?

The hearing is scheduled to continue through Friday, after which Judge Tony Graf will decide whether the case should proceed to trial.