Utah prosecutors presented surveillance video that they say shows the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk arriving at Utah Valley University, moving across the campus and taking a position on a nearby rooftop before the fatal shooting.
The footage was introduced Tuesday during the second day of Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing in Provo. Prosecutors are attempting to persuade District Court Judge Tony Graf that sufficient probable cause exists for the criminal case to proceed to trial. The hearing is scheduled to continue through Friday.
Robinson, 23, faces seven criminal charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with Kirk’s death on September 10, 2025. Prosecutors have announced that they intend to seek the death penalty. Robinson has not yet entered a plea, and the preliminary hearing is not intended to determine whether he is guilty.
Former Utah state investigator David Hull testified while prosecutors played several surveillance clips. Hull said the videos showed Robinson arriving on campus, leaving and later returning in different clothing. Other footage reportedly depicted a person entering a rooftop area, running, crouching and lying in a prone position shortly before the shot was fired. Hull identified that person as Robinson.
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According to the investigator’s testimony, the individual stood up after the shot, moved across the building, lowered himself from the roof and left the campus. The footage did not always provide a close view of the person’s face, making Hull’s interpretation and the surrounding evidence important parts of the prosecution’s presentation.
Kirk was speaking before a large crowd at a Utah Valley University event when he was fatally shot. Prosecutors say the shooting came from a nearby building and have described evidence that they believe connects Robinson to the location and the weapon allegedly used.
On the hearing’s first day, former university police officer Christopher Bagley testified that he heard a gunshot and saw people running in panic. After determining there were no additional victims, he helped secure the area and later examined the roof. Bagley said he observed impressions in the rooftop gravel that appeared consistent with someone having created a firing position.
Prosecutors have said they also possess DNA evidence connecting Robinson to the rifle believed to have been used in the attack. They further allege that he left a note for his roommate and romantic partner that included an admission related to the killing. Those claims remain allegations that must be tested through the court process.
Additional footage shown Tuesday reportedly involved a vehicle associated with Robinson. Hull testified that an officer encountered the vehicle during the early hours of September 11 and recorded details, including part of its license plate number. Investigators later used that information as part of the effort to identify and locate the suspect.
Defense attorneys challenged portions of the video presentation, including clips modified with circles or other visual markers intended to direct attention to particular people or movements. The defense raised questions about whether those edits could influence how the evidence was interpreted.
The hearing represents the first major public examination of the prosecution’s evidence. It has also drawn significant public attention because Kirk’s death intensified national concern about politically motivated violence and security at public political events.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, attended the proceedings along with family members and supporters. Some sensitive footage was handled carefully because of its graphic nature, and not all material entered into evidence was displayed publicly.
Why It Matters
The hearing will determine whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to place Robinson on trial in a potential death-penalty case. It also offers the public its first detailed view of how investigators reconstructed the suspect’s movements before and after the shooting. Because the case involves political violence, the proceedings are likely to remain under unusually intense scrutiny.
At the same time, a preliminary hearing has a lower legal threshold than a criminal trial. The judge is deciding whether probable cause exists, not whether the prosecution has proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
What Comes Next
Prosecutors are expected to continue presenting surveillance footage, forensic evidence and recorded witness statements during the remainder of the five-day hearing. Defense attorneys will have opportunities to challenge the evidence and question investigators.
After the hearing, the judge will determine whether Robinson should be ordered to stand trial. If probable cause is found, he would be arraigned, asked to enter a plea and eventually receive a trial schedule.
Prosecutors presented surveillance footage they say traces the suspect’s movements before and after the fatal shooting.
NEW: Video footage shows accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson visiting UVU multiple times on September 10th, with the last visit going into the early hours of September 11th.
Security footage allegedly shows Robinson running on the roof after firing the shot that killed… pic.twitter.com/HECVbuRziV
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 7, 2026
