Charlie Kirk shooting DNA ties Tyler Robinson to alleged murder weapon
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PROVO, Utah — A towel and screwdriver seized during the investigation into the Charlie Kirk assassination allegedly contained the DNA of suspected murderer Tyler Robinson, as well as the DNA of his ex-boyfriend and roommate Lance Twiggs.
Robinson, 23, allegedly used the towel to conceal the suspected murder weapon in the woods near Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.
He is accused of fatally shooting Kirk, 31, during a Turning Point USA event held at the school that day.
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Charlie Kirk was assassinated during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University on September 10. (Trent Nelson/Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
It’s unclear what the screwdriver was for, but police testified at Robinson’s preliminary hearing this week that they found it near the alleged perch of a sniper overseeing the TPUSA incident.
Both Twiggs and Robinson provided law enforcement with buccal swab samples that were used to create full DNA profiles.
Robinson’s preliminary hearing began Monday and is expected to last all week. Prosecutors must establish probable cause for the judge to green light a trial on a range of charges that carry the potential death penalty, including aggravated murder.
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Tyler Robinson, accused of murdering Charlie Kirk, attends a hearing in the Fourth District Court in Provo, Utah, on December 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/Salt Lake Tribune via Pool)
David Hull of the Utah Department of Public Safety returned to the witness stand Tuesday morning and prosecutors played surveillance video in which they allege Robinson was driving around campus before and after the shooting, coming and going in his Dodge Challenger.
The second witness of the day is Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina of the State Bureau of Investigation led the evidence response team processing the scenes at UVU after the incident.
Faumuina testified that his team recovered a screwdriver from the roof of the campus’ Losee Center, where Robinson allegedly fired the gun that killed Kirk.
Charlie Kirk’s parents, Robert W. Kirk and Kathryn Kirk, arrive at the Fourth Judicial District Courthouse to attend the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk, on July 6, 2026 in Provo, Utah, USA. (REUTERS/Jim Urquhart)
He also testified that his team found the suspected murder weapon, a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle wrapped in a dark towel nearby. It was re-equipped to fire .30-06 bullets, matching the caliber of bullet fragments found during Kirk’s autopsy.
Faumuina testified that both the towel and the screwdriver had DNA consistent with the same two men (Robinson and Twiggs).
In a handwritten note and text messages, Robinson allegedly confessed to the crime to Twiggs, who was living with him at the time and cooperating with investigators. Twiggs has not been charged with any crime, and the alleged presence of his DNA in evidence is expected to strengthen the case against Robinson.
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Matt Robinson and Amber Robinson arrive at the Fourth Judicial District Courthouse to attend the preliminary hearing for their son Tyler Robinson, accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk, on July 6, 2026 in Provo, Utah, USA. (REUTERS/Jim Urquhart)
Later Tuesday, FBI forensic analyst Amanda Bakker testified that Robinson was likely the majority donor in the mixed DNA samples found on both items. Twiggs is believed to be a minority contributor to both.
Prosecutor Ryan McBride objected multiple times during Bakker’s protracted questioning by defense attorney Michael Burt, arguing that the defense was doing well “beyond the scope of establishing probable cause.”
At one point Judge Tony Graf Jr. asked how far he planned to go with the questioning, and Burt replied that he had one more question before continuing.
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A still image from the video shows Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attending a preliminary hearing presided over by District Court Judge Tony Graf in the U.S. Fourth District Court in Provo, Utah, on July 6, 2026. (Reuters TV/Pool via REUTERS.)
“I’ll talk them into it,” McBride said, prompting laughter in the courtroom.
As the DNA interrogation continued for most of the afternoon, Erika Kirk nodded at one point as she listened to Burt interrogate Bakker.
Observers in the gallery, including Erika Kirk, watched intently as Bakker explained a chart showing specific DNA markers.
Kirk leaned forward and bowed his head as he listened to the statement.
Robinson was listening and moving too. One of Robinson’s family members yawned.
Kirk’s father occasionally took notes.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea.
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He will be asked to do so if prosecutors prevail in establishing probable cause, as experts widely expect.
“There’s no realistic chance that the state won’t be able to establish probable cause, unless the prosecutor somehow forgets how to get to the courthouse,” Maryland attorney Randolph Rice, who represents Rachel Morin’s family, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. he said.
