PROVO, Utah — Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing in the assassination case of Charlie Kirk wrapped up on Friday without a decision from Judge Tony Graf Jr. However, a substantial amount of evidence came to light during the week-long hearing.
Robinson, 23, is accused of shooting Kirk, 31, from a rooftop during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
Judge Graf agreed to a request from the defense allowing lawyers to submit additional briefs before determining if Robinson’s case will go to trial, which could extend the timeline by around six weeks. The next hearing is set for September 1, just before the anniversary of Kirk’s death.
With significant public interest and a series of closed-door hearings, various conspiracy theories have surfaced regarding the incident in Orem last year. Many of these theories were debunked by evidence presented last week.
Kirk’s Cause of Death
The defense objected to the inclusion of Robinson’s autopsy report in court, but Utah Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull testified that Kirk’s death was ruled a homicide due to a gunshot wound to the neck.
This testimony revealed no contradictions from the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy, thus dismissing theories related to an alleged microphone explosion.
Despite speculations surrounding the absence of an obvious “exit wound” in footage of Kirk’s murder, the autopsy doctor remained firm that the shooting was the cause of death.
James Gagliano, a former FBI supervisory special agent, stated that misunderstandings about bullet trajectories often come from those who haven’t witnessed an autopsy. He noted that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms’ findings regarding bullet fragments might fuel further conspiracy theories.
Bullet fragments were retrieved from Kirk’s body and sent for profiling. Although the tool marks were inconclusive, the bullet’s caliber matched that of a spent casing tied to the alleged murder weapon linked to Robinson’s DNA.
Additionally, the defense introduced unrelated evidence of a holster and a bullet found near the scene, which could complicate the narrative.
Discrepancies in Height
Some theories suggest the shooter was taller than Robinson, who is about 5 feet 10 inches. Yet, prosecutors argue that surveillance footage and other evidence places him at the scene. Videos show a vehicle associated with Robinson, and DNA was recovered from a screwdriver near the shooting position as well as what is believed to be the murder weapon.
Independent journalist Taylor Hansen attempted to recreate the suspect’s route and challenges the height discrepancy in relation to Robinson.
Alibi Questions
While it has been suggested that Robinson was not on campus during the murder, investigators argue that video evidence places him on campus several times that day, wearing different clothing. This included interactions with Turning Point USA representatives.
Police also retrieved data from Robinson’s phone, offering insights into his activities and communications. However, no evidence that could exonerate him has been presented by the defense.
Maroon Shirt Theories
Conspiracy theories about others wearing similar maroon shirts on the day of the shooting were addressed in court. Footage showed a suspect in both maroon and a black long-sleeved shirt. These were allegedly linked to Robinson, who also wore a similar outfit when surrendering.
Lance Twiggs’ Testimony
Lance Twiggs, who was close to Robinson, was present during several interviews with authorities. His testimony became a focal point of the hearing.
Foreign Involvement Speculation
While defense lawyers worked to limit public access to potentially incriminating evidence like Twiggs’ testimony and personal notes from Robinson, no credible allegations of foreign conspiracy emerged in Kirk’s murder.
