Charlie Kirk's murderer, Tyler Robinson, has pleaded not guilty as the case is headed to the trial with the possibility of capital punishment.
According to Sky News, the suspect, accused of assassinating a right-wing political activist on Tuesday, September 1, entered not guilty on all seven charges.
Robinson on Tuesday denied aggravated murder of the Turning Point USA co-founder at the Utah Valley University campus on September 10, 2025.
Prosecutors argued that a “mountain of evidence,” DNA, posts on Discord and “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it" note to romantic partner suggested that Robinson committed the crime.
Ryan McBride, a prosecutor with the Utah County attorney’s office, told the court, “Tyler James Robinson shot and killed Charlie Kirk because he disagreed with him, and he did it by firing a high-powered rifle into a crowd of over 3,000 people, which created a great risk of death that anyone would know about.”
The Utah district judge Tony Garf, who is presiding over the Kirk murder case, ruled before the Robinson not guilty plea that the 23-year-old suspect must stand trial and even cleared the way for the prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
The judge rules that Robinson will stand trial on all counts, including aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury.
Charlie Kirk's family reacts to the ruling
Charlie Kirk's family has said the ruling that the case against his alleged killer should proceed to trial marks an "important step" in their "pursuit of justice."
A statement, made on behalf of the Kirk family, read, "Today’s decision, which comes nearly a year since Charlie was taken from us, marks an important step in our family's pursuit of justice for him. Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie's murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father.”
“We are grateful to all who have continued to pray for us, support us, and stand with us through a year of unimaginable grief. As the next phase of the judicial process begins, our family remains united in our love for Charlie, our commitment to the pursuit of justice, and our prayer for a transparent and timely process," it added.
Kirk's widow, Erika (the mother of their two children), and his parents, Robert and Kathryn, attended the hearing in the city of Provo, Utah.
