The Utah judge presiding over the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson appeared to visibly react as prosecutors played video footage showing the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Before the recording was shown, State District Judge Tony Graf made clear that the footage would not be displayed publicly in the courtroom or released online.
“The Court is not publishing this in the courtroom, nor is it being published, obviously, online. But the Court will watch it in court and to the parties, if you could protect your screens however you choose to, and then I’ll check to see when we’re ready, and then we’ll have it played,” Graf said.
This may have been the most difficult moment of today’s hearing. The judge visibly flinched as footage of Charlie Kirk being shot was shown in court.
You could feel the weight of the room.
Praying for Erika and Charlie’s family. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/zZSQTmipBa— Brandon Tatum (@TheOfficerTatum) July 6, 2026
As the video played on courtroom monitors visible only to the judge and attorneys, Graf appeared to flinch at the moment the bullet struck Kirk.
Brandon Tatum, a former Tucson SWAT officer and a friend of Kirk, shared video of the judge’s reaction on social media.
“This may have been the most difficult moment of today’s hearing,” Tatum wrote. “The judge visibly flinched as footage of Charlie Kirk being shot was shown in court.”
“You could feel the weight of the room. Praying for Erika and Charlie’s family,” he added.
The emotional impact extended beyond the bench.
Scene from inside the Tyler Robinson courtroom:
Erika Kirk was crying before the hearing started.
Donald Trump Jr. is in the front row with his wife.
Tyler Robinson was laughing with his attorney before the hearing started.
Erika left during the description of the shooting.— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) July 6, 2026
NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin reported that Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, was visibly emotional before the hearing began.
“Erika Kirk was crying before the hearing started. Donald Trump Jr. is in the front row with his wife. Tyler Robinson was laughing with his attorney before the hearing started. Erika left during the description of the shooting,” Entin wrote on social media.
The New York Times’ Robert Draper similarly reported that Erika Kirk and several supporters left the courtroom as law enforcement witnesses began recounting the details of the shooting.
“Erika Kirk and her supporters stood and left the courtroom immediately as law-enforcement officials began testifying about the details of Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting, when he was struck by a bullet and slumped over,” Draper wrote, adding that she returned following a break in the proceedings.
Draper also observed Robinson’s demeanor during the testimony.
UVU campus Officer Bagley gives the first evidence testimony in the trial of Tyler Robinson for the Murder of Charlie Kirk
Notably, he lays out in detail when and where he was when he heard a gunshot and why he concluded it was a rifle shot. pic.twitter.com/VYlmLmCaLp
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) July 6, 2026
“When a former campus police officer described the pandemonium seconds after the shooting, Robinson appeared to lean forward slightly, his facial expression more intent than before. That’s when Erika Kirk and her in-laws abruptly left the courtroom.”
Much of Monday’s hearing focused on surveillance evidence prosecutors say links Robinson to the shooting.
Utah Valley University Police Officer Chris Bagley testified about what he witnessed on Sept. 10, 2025, including the immediate aftermath of the shooting and what investigators believe was the rooftop location from which the fatal shot was fired.
Former Utah State Bureau of Investigation agent David Hull later testified that surveillance footage captured Robinson on campus numerous times throughout Sept. 10 and into the early hours of Sept. 11.
According to Hull, one video showed a vehicle registered to Robinson entering a campus parking garage before a person investigators identified as Robinson exited the vehicle. Hull testified that the garage is only a short walk from where Kirk was shot shortly after noon.
Additional surveillance footage allegedly showed Robinson later wearing different clothing, including long pants instead of shorts, while appearing to limp. Prosecutors contend the clothing change may have been intended to conceal part of the firearm.
Hull also testified that surveillance video showed Robinson entering a stairwell that provided access to the rooftop investigators believe was used during the shooting. Shortly afterward, another camera captured an individual lying prone on the roof. Hull testified that, in his opinion, the person depicted was Robinson.
The video compilation (exhibit 12.4) of Tyler Robinson visiting UVU campus four times on 9/10 (the last visit stretching into the early morning hours of 9/11) will be submitted as evidence and broadcast to the media.
Here’s the video.
When you watch it, you’ll understand why… pic.twitter.com/niPw0Nbcdj
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) July 7, 2026
The purpose of the preliminary hearing is to determine whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial. Prosecutors are also seeking to continue pursuing the death penalty under Utah’s aggravated murder statute.
Following Kirk’s killing, prosecutors allege Robinson sent a text message to his roommate, Lance Twiggs, with whom authorities say he was in a romantic relationship, explaining his motive.
According to investigators, Robinson wrote that he shot Kirk because “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Robinson has been charged in connection with Kirk’s death. The allegations against him remain subject to the judicial process, and the court will determine whether the evidence presented is sufficient to move the case to trial.
