Surveillance video shown in court this week has become a central piece of evidence in the case against Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old Utah man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The video compilation, presented during Robinson's preliminary hearing, allegedly tracks his movements around Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, from his first arrival on campus hours before the shooting to his movements before and after Kirk was killed.
Utah State Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull testified that investigators used campus cameras to work backward and forward from footage of a figure on the roof of the Losee Center for Student Success, where prosecutors say the fatal shot was fired. The video does not show the actual shooting, but prosecutors said it shows the person they identify as Robinson accessing the roof, moving to the edge of the building, crawling into position and leaving moments after the shot.
Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in Kirk's death, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. He has not entered a plea. The weeklong preliminary hearing was aimed at determining whether prosecutors have enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
According to Hull's testimony, the timeline begins at about 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, when a vehicle believed to belong to Robinson arrived at a UVU parking garage. Hull testified that the vehicle matched records for Robinson and had distinctive wheels. The driver, whom Hull identified as Robinson, wore a red or maroon T-shirt, gray or olive shorts and Converse shoes before walking onto campus.
Hull said Robinson went to the amphitheater area, where he made contact with representatives from Turning Point USA, Kirk's organization, before returning to the garage around 9:25 a.m. and leaving in the vehicle. Just after 10 a.m., Hull testified that Robinson returned to campus on foot wearing the same clothing and carrying a blue backpack.
Investigators tracked him to Chick-fil-A inside the Sorensen Center, where Hull said he bought food, sat down and ate. Robinson then moved across campus, crossed Campus Drive into a wooded area, and returned to campus without the backpack. «He moves out across Campus Drive into a wooded area on what would be kind of the northeast side of Campus Drive, then returns back onto campus,» Hull explained as the video played in the courtroom. «We noticed at this point that he's no longer carrying the backpack that he was originally wearing.»
Before 11 a.m., Hull said Robinson then moved through the Gunther building and the computer science building before going to a railing that provided access to the roof of the Losee Center. He then allegedly came back down the stairs and walked off campus just before 11 a.m.
About 12:15 p.m., Hull testified that Robinson returned to campus again, this time wearing different clothing but the same shoes. Hull said Robinson also appeared to be walking with a limp or unusual gait. According to Hull, surveillance video showed Robinson coming up stairs in the parking structure, moving around Campus Drive and walking south across the front of the Losee Center. He then allegedly appeared on an exterior staircase that provided access to the building's roof.
At about 12:15 p.m., Hull testified, the figure investigators identified as Robinson «kind of rolls over the railing onto the roof of the building.» About 12:23 p.m., Hull testified that the figure ran across the rooftop of the Losee Center toward the southwest corner, crouched down and crawled toward the edge of the building. Hull said the person could be seen lying prone before the reported shot was fired at 12:23 p.m.
After the shot, Hull testified, the figure stood up, moved north across the roof and headed toward the northeast corner of the building. The video shown in court did not capture the actual shooting, prosecutors clarified. But they said it showed the person on the roof moving into position before the shot and leaving immediately afterward.
Seconds after the shot, Hull testified that the figure lowered himself from the roof, jumped onto a grassy area and moved toward Campus Drive. Hull said the person appeared to be carrying «some kind of an object» in his hand. On cross-examination, Hull acknowledged he could not see an actual gun in the video. He testified that the object appeared long, concealed or in a bag, and that, based on his training and experience, it could be a firearm. Investigators also noted that the apparent limp or unusual gait was no longer visible after the shooting.
After the shooting, Hull testified that investigators used the campus video to identify a wooded area they believed could have evidentiary value. The area was secured, and Hull said he was later notified that a gun had been found there. On redirect, Hull testified that a rifle was discovered in the wooded area where investigators believed Robinson had entered. He said Robinson was seen entering the wooded area on at least two occasions: during his second visit to campus and again during the visit when the shooting occurred.
About 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 11, Hull testified that surveillance video showed a vehicle he identified as Robinson's at the intersection of Campus Drive and 800 South in the early morning hours after the shooting. According to Hull, the vehicle had contact with Officer Goforth, a Spanish Fork officer working security detail. Hull testified that something about the interaction led investigators to further pursue the case against Robinson.
