Tyler Robinson shows no reaction as Charlie Kirk shooting video plays

PROVO, Utah — Charlie Kirk’s family faced the accused assassin for the first time in a Utah courtroom Monday, the first day of a preliminary hearing that is expected to last a week.

Tyler Robinson, 23, was already in the room before members of the media were allowed in around 8:55 a.m. He was wearing a gray suit, pink shirt and black tie, and his wrists and ankles were handcuffed. Later in the hearing, when videos of Kirk being shot to death were played to the parties and the judge, Kirk did not visibly react when the fatal gunshot was heard.

Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull took the stand to introduce various videos, including footage of Kirk’s death, which were not made public in court but were shown to judges and attorneys on both sides. Two of these reportedly showed the moment a sniper’s bullet hit Kirk’s neck, and contained sounds that journalists could hear.

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Judge Tony Graf Jr. In one of the videos, he was startled and moved away from the screen when a gunshot was heard, while Robinson remained motionless in both.

Kirk’s family had already left the courtroom before it was played. They were expected to receive warning before clear evidence was presented and to leave twice before the assassination itself.

Tyler Robinson, accused of murdering Charlie Kirk, appeared for a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo, Utah, on Thursday, December 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/Salt Lake Tribune via Pool)

For the remainder of the hearing, Erika Kirk and her in-laws, Rob and Kathy Kirk, sat side by side, watching the proceedings closely, occasionally exchanging glances or looking down. Other relatives present included Erika’s sister Tonya and her nieces and nephews.

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At another point with Kirk’s family outside the courtroom, Hull also testified about the autopsy report, which listed Kirk’s death as a homicide by a gunshot wound to the neck. During this statement, Robinson’s mother leaned towards her husband and placed her hand on his shoulder.

Kirks also had some high-profile supporters close to the front; among them were Donald Trump Jr., his wife Bettina, and conservative commentators Jack Posobiec and Brandon Tatum.

Charlie Kirk was assassinated during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University on September 10. (Trent Nelson/Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Robinson’s parents, who usually sit in the front row, were in the fourth row Monday with other relatives.

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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.)

The first witness of the day was Officer Christopher Bagley, currently a member of the Spanish Fork Police Department. Kirk was working at Utah Valley University when he was shot and killed during a Turning Point event in the US on September 10, 2025.

He testified that he believed he heard a rifle shot, not a gunshot, from the direction of the Losee Center. He said he came to this conclusion after seeing an empty gun holster on the ground amid the initial chaos and looking up to see the Lose Center roof with a clear view of where Kirk was speaking.

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 went to Losee’s roof, where he found a black and red screwdriver and marks on the gravel that resembled “sniper pads.”

He also said he reviewed surveillance video showing the suspect on top of the roof and found footprints in the grass where the suspect fell and scuff marks on the roof above them. Defense attorney Kathy Nester was cross-examined for only about 10 minutes before the lunch break, but asked Bagley if the police report from that day mentioned the direction the gunfire came from.

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)

“It didn’t happen,” he said. He didn’t know what happened to the gun holster either.

While prosecutors planned to show some UVU surveillance video, Robinson’s defense objected. Although Graf rejected most of the objections throughout the day, he maintained his objection on the grounds that the video was not properly verified and could not be played due to edits such as facial blurring, zooming and red circles.

The video is expected to be introduced later after prosecutors said they planned to present an unedited version.

Sniper teams are deployed at the courthouse ahead of a week-long preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk on July 6, 2026, in Provo, Utah. Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at the Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, also attended. (Francisco Kjolseth/Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Hull was the second of four witnesses prosecutors said they planned to take the stand Monday. He is expected to continue testimony at 9 a.m. MT on Tuesday morning.

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Other video shown Monday showed a vehicle allegedly belonging to Robinson coming and going from a home near the UVU campus after midnight on September 11 (about 12 hours after Charlie Kirk’s murder on September 10).

As Fox News Digital previously reported, Robinson also allegedly encountered law enforcement in the area hours after the attack.

At some point during the week, the court is expected to hear a pre-recorded statement from Robinson’s ex, Lance Twiggs, who prosecutors allege received a written confession following the crime.

Robinson has not yet entered a plea. He could face the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder, the top charge against him.