Investigator testifies at hearing in Kirk assassination
Agent says video shows defendant going onto roof to kill conservative activist
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PROVO, Utah -- The man charged with killing Charlie Kirk strolled Utah Valley University in shorts and a T-shirt, bought a meal at Chick-fil-A and made contact with people from Kirk's organization, before returning in different clothes to shoot the conservative activist from a rooftop, an investigator testified Tuesday.
Former State Bureau of Investigation Agent David Hull described Tyler Robinson's alleged movements before and after Kirk was killed as prosecutors played previously unseen campus surveillance videos in state court. The defendant first arrived on campus about four hours before the shooting and returned several times, including when he allegedly went onto the roof to shoot Kirk and again the night after Kirk was killed, Hull said.
Prosecutors say they intend to seek the death penalty in the case. They are trying to convince Judge Tony Graf that they have enough evidence to bring Robinson to trial on an aggravated murder charge.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea. His attorneys have not commented on his guilt or innocence. They have, however, sought to get the death penalty taken off the table, so far unsuccessfully.
In a video shown Tuesday, Robinson climbs over a railing onto a rooftop, crouches down and runs to a site overlooking where Kirk was speaking, Hull testified. After the shooting, Robinson runs back across the roof, drops to the ground and flees on foot, Hull said.
Investigators found the suspected murder weapon -- a bolt-action rifle with one spent round -- wrapped in a towel in some nearby woods. DNA on the towel matched to two people. One was Tyler Robinson's roommate and the other was very likely Robinson, Jennifer Faumuina with the State Bureau of Investigation testified.
This week's preliminary hearing marks the most significant presentation of evidence to date in the case. Authorities allege Robinson, 23, shot Kirk on Sept. 10 while the 31-year-old activist and ally of President Donald Trump was speaking to a crowd of thousands.
Defense attorney Kathryn Nester questioned Hull's handling of the crime scene on the day of the shooting. She also asked about a bullet that was found on campus at a different location than the alleged shooting site.
Hull said that bullet was traced back to a law enforcement officer who had "cleared" his weapon, ejecting an unused bullet. He also said a handgun in a backpack was found at the scene.
Robinson's attorneys also raised questions about the DNA evidence, using testimony from an FBI analyst to demonstrate that finding a person's DNA on an item doesn't necessarily mean that person touched the item.
Prosecutors contend the shooting endangered others at Kirk's campus event -- an aggravating circumstance that could make the crime punishable by death under Utah law. Robinson also faces possible sentence enhancements based on the prosecution's claim that he targeted Kirk because of his political views.
During one of several appearances on campus by Robinson on Sept. 10, Hull said the defendant went to the amphitheater where Kirk was later shot and contacted representatives of Turning Point USA, a group co-founded by Kirk that galvanized the conservative youth vote to help Trump win a second term.
The investigator did not detail what occurred during that interaction or if members of Kirk's security team were present.
Prosecutors allege Robinson confessed in a note left for his roommate, who was also his romantic partner, that read: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it." Robinson also sent a text saying he targeted Kirk because he "had enough of his hatred," prosecutors have said.