Charlie Kirk assassination suspect approached TPUSA staff hours before shooting, court hears

WASHINGTON, DC: The man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk approached members of the conservative activist’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) organization about four hours before the attack, an investigator testified.

The interaction emerged as prosecutors detailed Tyler Robinson’s alleged movements around Utah Valley University well before the shooting. His lawyers are disputing key evidence as the court weighs whether the case should proceed to trial.

Robinson allegedly approached TPUSA staff before attack

As per the BBC report Wednesday, July 8, David Hull, the Utah state Bureau of Investigation’s lead investigator on the case, took the court through surveillance footage that prosecutors say tracked Robinson across the campus on September 10, 2025.

Hull testified that Robinson was allegedly on campus roughly four hours before Kirk was shot, strolling around the college in a T-shirt and shorts.

The investigator said Robinson was then seen approaching members of Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization. Hull did not elaborate on what was said or what happened during the interaction.

“That alleged contact placed Robinson around people connected to Kirk’s organization hours before the shooting, according to the testimony presented at the preliminary hearing,” the report said.

Hull also testified that Robinson later left the campus and returned about 90 minutes before the attack, it stated. When he reappeared, the suspect was wearing different clothes and appeared to be walking with a limp, the investigator said.

Footage allegedly showed the suspect heading toward the Losee Building and rolling over a railing onto the rooftop.

Prosecutors trace suspect’s alleged rooftop movements

Shortly after the fatal shot rang out, the same man could be seen running across the roof, dropping down while holding an unknown object and leaving the campus, Hull testified.

A rifle was later recovered “in the wooded area where we believe Mr Robinson entered the wooded area,” Hull told the court.

Prosecutors also presented footage that appeared to show the suspect jumping from the roof while holding an object.

Hours after the attack, Robinson allegedly returned near the school, Hull testified. An officer briefly interacted with him while a manhunt was underway in the early hours of September 11, the report said.

Hull said Robinson tried to drive a gray Dodge Challenger onto campus but drove away after the officer spoke with him. The officer noted the vehicle’s license plate.

Robinson defense challenges key prosecution evidence

Robinson’s defense team, led by attorney Kathy Nester, repeatedly challenged evidence and testimony during the first two days of the hearing.

Under Nester’s questioning, Hull acknowledged that at least one other weapon had been found on campus on the day of the shooting. He also said no shell casings were discovered on the rooftop near a suspected “sniper pad.”

Nester told the court that some witnesses had described a different suspect on the rooftop. She also said a few people interviewed by police claimed a bald man had been driving the vehicle prosecutors alleged was Robinson’s in security footage.

The defense argued that footage had been edited and objected that people who originally recorded it were not on the stand for questioning.

Prosecutors later introduced an FBI report finding that DNA recovered from a screwdriver, rifle and towel matched Robinson, as well as his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, who has cooperated with police.

The hearing is due to end Friday, after which Judge Graf will weigh whether prosecutors have presented strong enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. Robinson has not entered a plea, the report cited.