Utah District Court Judge Tony Graf ruled that a county prosecutor violated a pre‑trial publicity order and held the attorney in contempt. In the same proceeding, the judge rejected the defense’s request to remove the death‑penalty option from the murder case.
Tyler Robinson was convicted of fatally shooting political activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, during an event at Utah Valley University. The shooting occurred after Robinson approached the venue armed with a Mauser 98 .30‑06 rifle.
The prosecution has charged Robinson with seven counts, including aggravated murder, a capital offense, and felony reckless discharge of a firearm causing bodily injury. Additional charges encompass two counts of felony obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and a count for committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.
Recent search warrants disclosed a handwritten note addressed to Robinson’s live‑in partner, Lance Twiggs, in which Robinson admitted planning and executing the attack on Kirk. The note reads, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.”
Forensic analysis recovered Robinson’s DNA and a palm print from the roof of the Losee Center building where the shooting took place. A bullet fragment extracted from Kirk’s body was identified as .30 caliber, matching the rifle attributed to Robinson.
Lance Twiggs has been granted limited use immunity to testify at the upcoming preliminary hearing. Prosecutors intend to introduce Twiggs’s text messages with Robinson and recorded statements, and they have requested the opportunity to cross‑examine him during the hearing scheduled for next month.
