Charlie Kirk's family cites "overwhelming evidence" against alleged killer

The family of conservative activist Charlie Kirk stated they believe "overwhelming evidence" proves Tyler Robinson murdered him as he addressed students at Utah Valley University in September 2025. This statement follows a weeklong preliminary hearing, after which Utah State District Judge Tony Graf will determine if prosecutors have sufficient grounds to put Robinson on trial for aggravated murder.

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The conclusion of the preliminary hearing marks an important step forward in the pursuit of justice for Charlie.

"The conclusion of the preliminary hearing marks an important step forward in the pursuit of justice for Charlie," the Kirk family said in a statement. They described the proceedings as "unimaginably painful and emotionally demanding." While finding comfort in the public witnessing of the evidence, the family emphasized their prayer for a "fair, transparent, and grounded" process as the case moves forward. Kirk's widow, Erika, has asked the judge to make a determination by September 1, with further arguments scheduled for that date.

Robinson, who has not entered a plea, surrendered to authorities a day after Kirk's fatal shooting. Kirk was a close ally of former President Trump, credited with galvanizing young voters for Republicans in the 2024 election. During the hearing, prosecutors revealed portions of a recorded interview with Robinson's former roommate, Lance Twiggs. Twiggs, who was Robinson's romantic partner at the time, testified that Robinson allegedly confessed to the shooting in messages, expressing regret, and that Robinson was acting erratically and planned to turn himself in.

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As difficult as these last few days have been, it brings our family comfort to know that the world has witnessed the overwhelming evidence of what occurred to Charlie that day.

Robinson's defense attorneys are challenging the DNA evidence presented by authorities, which they claim links him to the murder weapon. One attorney, Michael Burt, has repeatedly questioned the reliability of the DNA tests cited by prosecutors. Investigators stated these tests linked Robinson to a rifle found near the shooting site, ammunition, and a tool allegedly used to etch messages onto bullet cartridges. The defense used testimony from a government DNA analyst to highlight potential issues with the evidence.

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he wished "he hadn't done it,"