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DNA, rifle, and a confession
A Utah court heard that DNA linked to the suspected killer Tyler Robinson was found on key evidence in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, including a towel and a screwdriver recovered during the investigation.
“a towel and screwdriver recovered during the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s assassination”
Fox News reported that Robinson, 23, allegedly used the towel to conceal the suspected murder weapon in the woods near Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, and that prosecutors played surveillance video they allege shows Robinson making his way around campus before and after the shooting.
AP reported that in a recording played in court, Lance Twiggs said the defendant told him “he wishes he hadn’t done it” the day after Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University.
Prosecutors also tied the case to a rifle recovered from the Losee Center rooftop area, with Fox News stating that Firearms analyst Amanda Bakker testified Robinson is likely the majority donor in mixed DNA samples found on both items and that Twiggs is believed to be the minority contributor.
Fox News said the suspected murder weapon was a Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle wrapped in a dark-colored towel nearby, retrofitted to fire .30-06 rounds, consistent with the caliber of bullet fragments recovered during Kirk’s autopsy.
Courtroom fights over disclosure
As the preliminary hearing continued in Provo, Utah, prosecutors and defense attorneys clashed over whether statements from Lance Twiggs and chat-room messages involving Tyler Robinson should be publicly released.
AP reported that defense attorneys unsuccessfully fought the public release of the statements from Twiggs and the chat room messages, arguing prosecutors would characterize the material as a confession and undermine Robinson’s right to a fair trial.
In the same proceeding, the BBC said portions of both Twiggs’ video statement and text exchanges were redacted, while others were played only for those in court, and it described how the prosecution revealed images of the alleged murder weapon and engraved bullets and cartridges found at the scene and at Robinson’s residence.
The BBC also quoted Robinson’s text to Twiggs, including “If you read this, you are gay,” as part of the inscriptions presented in court, and it said Robinson complained about crickets being too loud and lamented that a sniffer dog may have located the firearm.
AP added that prosecutors alleged Robinson confessed in a note to Twiggs that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” and it said Robinson also allegedly sent a text to Twiggs saying he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.”
Judge weighs probable cause
State District Judge Tony Graf is weighing whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring Tyler Robinson to trial after a weeklong preliminary hearing in Provo, Utah, where prosecutors presented surveillance video and testimony about the alleged rooftop shooting.
“would have been surprisingly accessible at the time of the killing”
NewsNation reported that the rooftop from which Robinson allegedly shot Charlie Kirk would have been “surprisingly accessible” at the time of the killing, and it said prosecutors presented surveillance video as they sought to reinforce their contention that Robinson fired a rifle on Sept. 10, 2025, from atop the Losee Student Center at Utah Valley University in Orem.
The BBC said the prosecution played an investigative interview with ex-roommate and romantic partner Lance Twiggs and revealed the pair’s text messages, while it noted that the judge will determine whether it is enough for a trial in the possible death penalty case.
Fox News reported that prosecutors must establish probable cause for the judge to green-light the path to trial on a slew of charges, including aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty, and it said Robinson’s preliminary hearing began Monday and is expected to take all week.
AP reported that Robinson has not entered a plea and turned himself in a day after Kirk was shot, and it said prosecutors contend the shooting endangered others at Kirk’s campus event, an aggravating circumstance that could make the crime punishable by death under Utah law.