A Utah judge ruled on Tuesday that Tyler Robinson will stand trial for the killing of Charlie Kirk. Judge Tony Graf decided there is enough evidence to move the case forward after a five-day hearing. The 23-year-old accused killer now faces all seven counts leveled against him. This includes a charge of first-degree murder. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. The decision comes nearly a year after Kirk was shot on September 10, 2025. Robinson pleaded not guilty to every charge in court. He is accused of aggravated murder and firing a gun that caused serious injury. He also faces counts for obstructing justice and tampering with a witness. A violent offense committed in the presence of a child is also on the docket. According to reports, the judge found the state met the probable cause threshold to bind the case over for trial.

KIRK Family statement after decision to go to trial:

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… — Breccan F. Thies (@BreccanFThies) September 2, 2026

Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride said Robinson's DNA was found on the rifle. Video showed him on campus before the shooting took place. A screwdriver left at the scene was used to reassemble part of the gun. McBride also pointed to text messages where Robinson seemed to boast about the act. The state argues Robinson shot and killed Kirk because he disagreed with his views. McBride told the court that Kirk was an outspoken advocate for traditional values. Prosecutors say Robinson found these ideas repugnant. They claim Robinson targeted Kirk due to his political beliefs. The defense argued the shot was precise and did not endanger the crowd. They said the angle of the shot meant no one else was in the path of the bullet. The judge ruled otherwise on the risk to bystanders. Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, called the ruling an "important step" for justice. She wiped away tears as the decision was announced in court. The family released a statement on X after the ruling. They noted that every step carries the weight of what the murder took from the children. The family said they remain united in their love for Charlie. They also expressed a commitment to a transparent and timely process. Per The Federalist, the judge stated the evidence is sufficient to support a reasonable belief that the defendant is the shooter. The court noted that the determination does not rest on crowd size alone.