New courtroom testimony has revealed the alleged movements of the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, with prosecutors saying he spent hours on campus, bought food, interacted with staff and later returned to the scene before and after the shooting.
The man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University allegedly spent hours on campus, bought a meal at Chick-fil-A and interacted with members of Kirk’s organisation before carrying out the attack, a US court has heard.
Tyler Robinson, 23, is facing charges over the fatal shooting of Kirk during a public event at the university on 10 September 2025.
He has not entered a plea, and a preliminary hearing is now determining whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
On the second day of the hearing, investigators outlined Robinson’s alleged movements using surveillance footage and witness testimony.
David Hull, the Utah State Bureau of Investigation’s lead investigator, told the court that Robinson first arrived on campus around four hours before the shooting, wearing a T-shirt and shorts.
According to Hull, surveillance footage showed Robinson walking around the university, purchasing food at Chick-fil-A and approaching members of Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA organisation before leaving the campus.
Prosecutors allege Robinson returned about 90 minutes before the shooting, this time wearing different clothes and appearing to walk with a limp.
Hull testified that footage appeared to show Robinson making his way to the roof of the Losee Building by climbing over a railing.
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Moments after the fatal shot was fired, prosecutors say surveillance footage captured the same individual running across the rooftop before climbing down while carrying an unidentified object.
Investigators later recovered a rifle in a wooded area where they believe Robinson fled after leaving the campus.
Hull also told the court that Robinson allegedly returned to the university hours later while police were still searching for the suspect.
According to investigators, Robinson attempted to drive a grey Dodge Challenger onto campus but left after briefly speaking with a police officer, who recorded the vehicle’s licence plate.
Throughout the hearing, Robinson’s defence team challenged key parts of the prosecution’s evidence.
Defence lawyer Kathy Nester argued that investigators had overlooked inconsistencies, pointing out that another weapon had also been discovered on campus that day.
Hull acknowledged under questioning that no spent shell casings were recovered from the rooftop near what investigators described as a possible sniper position.
The defence also highlighted witness statements that allegedly described a different person on the rooftop, while others reportedly claimed a bald man had been driving the vehicle prosecutors linked to Robinson.
Robinson’s lawyers repeatedly objected to surveillance footage introduced by prosecutors, arguing that some recordings had been edited and that the individuals who originally captured the footage were not available to testify.
Later in the hearing, prosecutors introduced forensic DNA evidence through FBI analysts.
Investigators testified that DNA recovered from a rifle, screwdriver and towel matched Robinson, as well as his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, who has been cooperating with authorities.
The defence questioned the FBI’s forensic procedures and raised concerns about the interpretation and reliability of the DNA testing.
The preliminary hearing is expected to conclude on Friday.
Judge Graf will not decide Robinson’s guilt or innocence at this stage but will determine whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for the case to move forward to a full jury trial.
