The second day of preliminary hearings in the trial of Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, introduced some of the most damning evidence yet — including surveillance video allegedly showing Robinson’s movements before, during, and after the shooting.
Utah state prosecutors are building the foundation for a victim-targeting enhancement on the capital murder charge against Robinson, though key testimony has not yet been officially admitted by the court.
State witness Jennifer Faumuina, a sergeant at the Utah Department of Public Safety’s State Bureau of Investigation and team lead for the evidence response team, testified that law enforcement found DNA from both Robinson and his roommate Lance Twiggs on a towel wrapped around a rifle discovered at the scene.
DNA was also found on a screwdriver located on the roof of the Losee Center building at Utah Valley University, where witnesses Monday said they found a sniper pad in the gravel.
DNA contributors for the towel aligned 95 percent with Robinson and 5 percent with Twiggs. The screwdriver DNA aligned 89 percent with Robinson and 11 percent with Twiggs.
The surveillance footage compilation shows a man alleged to be Robinson visiting the UVU campus four times on September 10, the day Kirk was shot, with the final visit stretching into the early morning hours of September 11.
Utah Department of Public Safety Agent David Hull testified that Robinson made contact with Turning Point USA representatives during his first visit to campus that morning, parking a silver Dodge Challenger registered to Robinson.
The second video shows the man alleged to be Robinson entering campus on foot, where Hull said he ate Chick-fil-A around 11 a.m.
The third video — the most critical — shows the man returning to campus with what prosecutors suggested was a concealed rifle causing a visible limp.
The man is shown entering the Losee Center building, going to the roof, and lying prone during the time of the shooting. Seconds after shots were fired, the individual is seen jumping off the roof with a long, rifle-like object in his hand concealed by a cloth.
The limp is gone.
The video compilation (exhibit 12.4) of Tyler Robinson visiting UVU campus four times on 9/10 (the last visit stretching into the early morning hours of 9/11) will be submitted as evidence and broadcast to the media.
Here’s the video.
When you watch it, you’ll understand why… pic.twitter.com/niPw0Nbcdj
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) July 7, 2026
A fourth video shows a man alleged to be Robinson returning to campus just past midnight. TPUSA’s Andrew Kolvet suggested his return is connected to a message from Robinson saying he was returning to the scene to retrieve his rifle unseen.
Judge Tony Graf allowed the raw surveillance footage to be admitted over objections from Robinson’s defense team and permitted it to be broadcast to the media.
The defense launched its most intense fight over written testimony from Pastor David Engelhardt, a friend of Kirk’s who serves on the board of TPUSA. That testimony detailed the political and religious beliefs of TPUSA and Kirk, including positions on transgender ideology.
State prosecutors appeared to be using Engelhardt’s testimony to establish grounds for a victim-targeting enhancement on the capital murder charge — arguing Robinson allegedly targeted Kirk because of his political expression.
Robinson attorney Richard Novak objected, arguing the testimony might confuse a jury into thinking the case was about religion rather than murder.
“I understand in today’s world that there is a crossover between religion and politics,” Novak said. “I think we can all acknowledge that, but the legislature and the information here are focused on political expression, so I’m concerned that [affidavit] statement of Mr. Engelhardt goes far beyond the scope of what would be admissible.”
Graf only provisionally allowed the testimony until it can be viewed in context with other evidence. The testimony was not published to the court or media — and whether it will be fully allowed remains to be determined.
Robinson defense attorney Michael Burt spent hours attempting to discredit forensic analysis done by the FBI, cross-examining Amanda Bakker, a 10-year veteran forensic examiner in the DNA casework unit at the FBI’s Quantico headquarters.
Bakker initially found DNA from three people on some samples, but later revised her determination to two after Twiggs submitted an elimination sample.
BAKKER said she changed the determination from 3 to 2 after TWIGGS submitted an “elimination sample” that provided enough DNA evidence to leave “nothing left for a third individual to be compared to.”
— Breccan F. Thies (@BreccanFThies) July 7, 2026
Robinson is facing 10 charges, including aggravated murder, a capital offense. He also faces first-degree felony discharge of a firearm causing injury, two counts of second-degree felony obstruction of justice, two counts of third-degree felony witness tampering, and additional charges.
State prosecutors are being led by Ryan McBride, General Crimes Division Chief at the Utah County Attorney’s Office. Robinson’s defense team includes Michael Burt, the criminal defense attorney who defended Lyle Menendez and resulted in a mistrial in 1993.
The charges remain allegations. The case has not been proven in court.
Preliminary hearings continue this week in Utah County.
STATE attorney Ryan McBRIDE opened the hearing asking that the ROBINSON defense stop objecting to every single exhibit presented before the court.
“They filed their standing objection throughout the proceeding. They have continued to make objections. At this point, further…
— Breccan F. Thies (@BreccanFThies) July 7, 2026
ROBINSON is facing 10 charges, including aggravated murder, which is a capital offense.
He also faces first degree felony discharge of a firearm causing injury, two counts of second degree felony obstruction of justice, two counts of third degree felony witness tampering, and…
— Breccan F. Thies (@BreccanFThies) July 7, 2026
