Prosecutors can seek death penalty in Charlie Kirk murder case

A Utah judge has cleared prosecutors to pursue the death penalty against Tyler Robinson, who is accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a campus event.

Utah District Court Judge Tony Graf made the ruling at a hearing on Tuesday. Prosecutors said the evidence justified a capital trial in the murder of one of the US political right’s most prominent figures. Robinson faces seven charges, including aggravated murder for allegedly putting other people at risk. Utah law allows the death penalty for that charge.

Utah County prosecutor Ryan McBride showed video that he said placed Robinson in a sniper position at Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10, 2025. He also presented images that he said showed Robinson created a “great risk of death” to others, with Kirk’s security detail only feet away when Kirk was shot.

“

He lay down in a prone position, and he would have seen this mass of people of 3,000 plus people there for the event, took aim, put his crosshairs on Charlie Kirk, and fired.

McBride said Robinson had four rounds in his rifle, suggesting he was prepared to fire again if the first shot missed. He told the court, “He lay down in a prone position, and he would have seen this mass of people of 3,000 plus people there for the event, took aim, put his crosshairs on Charlie Kirk, and fired.”

Defense lawyer Staci Visser argued that the shooting endangered no one except Kirk. She said the assailant did not confront anyone else or reload the weapon, but fired once and fled. “There is one act. There is one shot. There is one bullet. There is one victim,” Visser told the court. She also said the defense disputed testing that prosecutors cited as showing Robinson’s DNA on the alleged murder weapon.

Prosecutors allege Robinson targeted Kirk because of his political views on gay marriage and transgender rights. They cited a text message in which he allegedly told his roommate, Lance Twiggs, that he shot Kirk because “some hate can't be negotiated out”. Robinson has not entered a plea. Kirk’s parents and wife attended the hearing, while his wife has taken leadership of Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization he co-founded.

“

There is one act. There is one shot. There is one bullet. There is one victim.