Public Hearing For Charlie Kirk’s Accused Killer Underway
on Jul 06, 2026 • Updated Jul 07, 2026
On Sept. 10, 2025, students gathered at Utah Valley University to hear and participate in a campus event with Charlie Kirk.
The 31-year-old conservative, who founded Turning Point USA, was shot as he began engaging with students at his The American Comeback Tour event, which encouraged freedom of speech.
Charlie died shortly after he was shot, and a manhunt began to find the suspected killer.
Following at least two reportedly false leads, the primary suspect was eventually apprehended the next day: Tyler James Robinson, 22 (presently 23).
In the evening of Sept. 11, 2025, Robinson turned himself in and was booked at Utah County Jail.
On Monday, July 6, the preliminary hearing began at the Utah County Justice Court in Provo, Utah, broadcast and livestreamed for the public.
Proceedings continued on Tuesday, July 7, with the questioning of witnesses for the prosecution.
RELATED: Does Tennessee’s “Charlie Kirk Act” Really Encourage Free Speech?
How To Watch The Preliminary Hearing
Beginning at 11 a.m. EST, or 9 a.m. GMT local, on July 6, the preliminary hearing found the prosecution questioning witnesses as part of its argument that Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, should stand trial for murder.
This was the first time that any of Charlie Kirk’s family was in the courtroom with Charlie’s accused murderer. Among them was Erika Kirk, widow to Charlie and mother to his two children.
Leading up to the start of the hearing, Erika released the following statement:
Statement on behalf of Charlie Kirk's immediate family, his parents Robert and Kathryn, his wife, Erika, and his sister, Mary:
— Erika Kirk (@MrsErikaKirk) July 6, 2026
Charlie was a beloved husband, son, brother, friend, and father. Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death and the loss that has…
ABC4 notes that Robinson is charged with the following:
- Aggravated Murder, a capital first-degree felony;
- Felony Discharge of a Firearm Causing Serious Bodily Injury, a first-degree felony;
- Two counts of Obstruction of Justice, a second-degree felony;
- Two counts of Tampering With a Witness, a third-degree felony; and
- Committing a Violent Offense in the Presence of a Child, which is a Class A misdemeanor.
Overseeing the proceedings is Judge Tony Graf.
“This is a preliminary hearing, this is a probable cause standard, and — if you could keep that in mind as you’re presenting your evidence — this is not intended to chill what you present, but keep in mind that the standard is probable cause,” Judge Graf advised on July 6.
The prosecution will be presenting about 40 to 50 pieces of evidence with four witnesses, all of whom are members of law enforcement.
The witnesses are, as follows:
- The first witness will be Officer Chris Bagley, formerly the senior officer of the Utah Valley University Police Department;
- The second witness will be Agent David Hull;
- The third witness will be Agent Brian Davis; and
- The fourth witness will be Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina, of the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Proceedings are expected to begin at local 9 a.m. GMT, or 11 a.m. EST, each day except on Wednesday, July 8, which will see proceedings begin at 1 p.m., or 3 p.m. EST.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea, but is expected to have the opportunity to after the preliminary hearing.
At approximately 11:40 a.m. on July 6, the prosecution began questioning its first witness, Officer Bagley.
During the proceedings on Day 1, video was shown of the shooting of Charlie. This video was not permitted to be released to the public as it will be evidence in the upcoming trial.
Regardless, cameras were honed in on Judge Graf as the video of the assassination was shown, and Judge Graf appeared to flinch as he watched the bullet strike Charlie’s neck.
See the judge react to that moment in presented evidence, here:
Judge Graf visibly reacts to a video of Charlie Kirk's murder pic.twitter.com/PbG16NmiP2
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 6, 2026
Proceedings continued on Tuesday, July 7.
Watch the Day 2 livestream of the preliminary hearing, on Tuesday, July 7, here:
Watch the livestream of Day 1 of the preliminary hearing, on beginning at 11 a.m. EST on Monday, July 6, here:
RELATED: “I Just Want to Go Home,” Says Erika Kirk Amidst Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting
Charlie Kirk’s Legacy
Following the death of Charlie Kirk, many elected officials — including President Donald Trump and many in his administration — paid tribute to the loss of the Turning Point USA founder.
On Sept. 11, 2025, which was the day after Charlie was killed, Trump revealed he would be posthumously awarding Charlie the highest civilian honor: the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Considered a maverick in the conservative ideological movement in the United States, nearly 100,000 people attended the Memorial Service for Charlie on Sept. 21, 2025, which featured two hours of worship music performed by some of the biggest artists in contemporary Christian music.
Since Charlie’s death, Turning Point USA has reported an increase in campus chapters and membership, with 125,000 students reportedly inquiring on affiliation in the first couple months since his death.
Turning Point USA also put on the very high-profile — and divisive — All-American Halftime Show, which offered counter-programming to the 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
On July 4, just two days before the start of the preliminary hearing against Charlie’s accused murderer, Tyler Robinson, Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, wrote a letter about the significance of the 250th anniversary of American independence, acknowledging it as the first Independence Day without him.
See her letter, here:
