Prosecutors say DNA ties Charlie Kirk suspect to rifle—Defense says not so fast

PoliticsOpinion
8 Jul 2026 • 6:17 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Prosecutors say DNA ties Charlie Kirk suspect to rifle—Defense says not so fast

  • Tyler Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in the September shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
  • During a preliminary hearing, Robinson's defense attorneys challenged the prosecution's DNA evidence, arguing it does not conclusively link their client to the suspected murder weapon found near the scene.
  • An FBI forensic analyst testified that DNA from a towel wrapped around the rifle belonged to two people, with a state investigator stating one was Robinson's roommate and the other "very likely" Robinson.
  • Prosecutors presented surveillance video allegedly showing Robinson on a rooftop overlooking the event and cited an alleged note and text message where Robinson expressed intent to target Kirk due to his political views.
  • The judge provisionally admitted a statement about Turning Point USA's values, while the defense continues to argue against the reliability of the DNA evidence and the introduction of certain motive-related statements.

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