Utah prosecutors presented surveillance footage Tuesday showing a person they identified as Tyler James Robinson entering Utah Valley University's campus, climbing onto a rooftop, and firing the shot that killed conservative commentator Charlie Kirk last September.
The video evidence came during the second day of a preliminary hearing where the state must convince a district judge that sufficient grounds exist to send the case to trial. Robinson, 23, faces aggravated murder charges in connection with Kirk's death.
Former Utah state bureau of investigation agent David Hull walked the court through the footage, which depicted someone arriving on campus, departing, and returning in different clothing. Additional video showed a figure entering the rooftop area, crouching low, then lying prone before a shot rang out at 12:23 p.m. on September 10, 2025, Hull testified. The footage then showed the person lowering from the roof and walking away from campus.
Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty. They have indicated DNA evidence links Robinson to the weapon used in the killing and claim he left a written confession for his roommate and romantic partner. Robinson has not yet entered a plea.
On the hearing's first day, former Utah Valley University police officer Christopher Bagley described the chaos after Kirk was shot in the neck while addressing thousands of people on campus. Bagley heard the gunshot and witnessed immediate panic as the crowd scattered. He later inspected a nearby rooftop and observed gravel impressions he believed indicated a sniper position.
The prosecution also introduced footage showing Robinson's vehicle on campus in the early morning hours of September 11. A police officer who encountered the vehicle during a routine interaction recorded details and a partial license plate number. That information ultimately led authorities to Robinson as an owner of the vehicle.
Kirk's widow Erika Kirk and his family attended the proceedings for the first time on Tuesday. Donald Trump Jr., a close friend of the commentator, was also present during Monday's session.
The prosecution and defense disagreed over additional videos the state presented that included circled highlights and other visual enhancements. Prosecutors said the modifications were intended to help the court better understand the footage's significance.
Later Tuesday, prosecutors were scheduled to present a recorded statement from Robinson's roommate and additional law enforcement videos. The hearing was expected to run for five days total.
Author James Rodriguez: "The video evidence appears to form a tight timeline that prosecutors will lean heavily on, but whether a jury finds it conclusive is another matter entirely."
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