A 23-year-old man in the United States has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as a Utah judge ruled that prosecutors can seek the death penalty if he is convicted.
Tyler Robinson entered his plea during a court appearance in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, nearly a year after Kirk was fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem on 10 September 2025.
Robinson faces aggravated murder, a capital offence in Utah, alongside six other charges linked to Kirk’s death.
Kirk, 31, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was addressing a crowd at the university when he was shot in the neck.
He was widely known for his conservative activism and was credited with helping mobilise young voters for President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors had opposed efforts by Robinson’s defence team to prevent the death penalty from being considered.
They argued that several aggravating circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting justified pursuing capital punishment.
One of the factors highlighted by prosecutors was the allegation that Robinson fired towards Kirk while other people, including children, were nearby.
During Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutor Ryan McBride told the court that prosecutors had substantial evidence linking Robinson to the killing.
“There is a mountain of evidence that proves that he is the shooter,” McBride said, referring to video footage that he claimed showed Robinson “dressed to kill” on the university campus on the day of the shooting.
“We know that the defendant is the shooter… first, because of the video evidence; second, because of the DNA; third, because of his admissions; and fourth, because of circumstantial evidence,” McBride said.
Prosecutors allege that Robinson repeatedly surveyed the university campus on the day Kirk was killed.
Evidence presented during a preliminary hearing in July indicated that he interacted with members of Turning Point USA and ate at Chick-fil-A before later returning to the area wearing different clothes.
McBride said the change of clothing included “long pants to obscure the rifle he had concealed down his pants”.
According to evidence presented by prosecutors, Robinson’s DNA was found on his grandfather’s rifle, which was allegedly hidden in a wooded area near the university following the shooting.
His DNA was also reportedly discovered on the towel used to wrap the weapon and on a screwdriver recovered at the scene.
Prosecutors further told the court that markings found on shell casings from the shooting allegedly matched a Dremel tool recovered from the home Robinson shared with his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs.
Twiggs previously gave prosecutors a videotaped interview that was played during the July preliminary hearing.
He testified that Robinson confessed to the shooting, cried and said he wished he had not carried it out.
Robinson, a former apprentice electrician, surrendered to authorities the day after Kirk’s death in the company of family members and a neighbour.
Prosecutors have alleged that Robinson’s opposition to Kirk’s conservative views, particularly his position on transgender issues, provided a possible motive for the killing. They said Robinson considered those views “repugnant”.
Prosecutor Chad Grunander also argued that Robinson endangered other people when he allegedly fired towards Kirk.
“He was playing, in effect, a game of ballistic roulette,” Grunander said.
“It’s been 356 days since Tyler Robinson assassinated Charlie Kirk,” Grunander added. “It’s time for him, the defendant, to be bound over for trial and arraigned. Today.”
Robinson’s defence lawyers have challenged aspects of the prosecution’s case, questioning investigative procedures and the qualifications of experts who testified during the preliminary hearing.
The defence has also repeatedly objected to cameras livestreaming court proceedings.
Judge Tony Graf heard arguments on the matter during a sealed hearing on Tuesday before ruling in favour of keeping the proceedings transparent, amid widespread conspiracy theories surrounding the case.
Defence lawyers also sought to weaken the prosecution’s argument for capital punishment, pointing out that no one else in the crowd was hit by a bullet apart from Kirk.
Kirk’s widow, Erika, attended Tuesday’s hearing with his parents, Robert and Kathryn. Erika and Kirk had two children together.
Following the ruling, the Kirk family described the judge’s decision as an important step towards justice.
“Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father,” the statement added.
Robinson is scheduled to return to court on 23 October, when a trial date is expected to be set.
