FILE - Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk is seen onstage at the Fiserv Forum during preparations for the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 14, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
It’s been one year since conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed in front of a crowd in Utah.
The trial against Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, trudges onward as the defendant recently pleaded not guilty to all counts. Robinson is eligible for capital punishment.
Here’s a look at where the case against Robinson stands today:
Tyler Robinson pleads not guilty
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Tyler Robinson will stand trial, face death penalty
The man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk will face the death penalty when his murder trial gets underway. A Utah judge ruled Wednesday that Tyler Robinson would face an aggravated murder charge, which would make him eligible for a potential death sentence.
Dig deeper:
Robinson, 23, pleaded not guilty to all seven charges against him, including aggravated murder for allegedly creating a risk of death to others when prosecutors say he shot Kirk at Utah Valley University. The aggravated murder charge makes Robinson eligible for the death penalty if convicted, an issue his attorneys vigorously challenged before a judge allowed the charge to move forward earlier this month.
Robinson’s lawyers asked the judge to dismiss the case or, at minimum, rule out the death penalty. They argued prosecutors had not shown that Kirk’s shooting put other people nearby at risk of being killed.
That’s an aggravating factor under state law that makes Robinson eligible for capital punishment.
Utah District Judge Tony Graf had the option to send the case to trial on a lesser charge of murder, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life in prison.
He said his decision to approve the aggravated murder charge was based on the positions of several people in and around a tent where Kirk was speaking, among other factors.
Robinson could also see his sentence increased if the court finds that politics were at play in the decision to kill Kirk.
Prosecutors have pointed to a message that is reported to have been found on the suspected murder weapon that read, "Hey Fascist! CATCH!" and a note that Robinson allegedly left for his partner. Robinson’s attorney has challenged that interpretation and said the district attorney’s office does not have the evidence to prove politics mattered.
What's next:
Robinson’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 23, during which time Graf may set a trial date.
Charlie Kirk shot and killed at Utah Valley University
FILE - Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, speaks before Republican vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) gives remarks at a campaign rally at Arizona Christian University on July 31, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Anna M …
The backstory:
On Sept. 10, 2025, Kirk was speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 people during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem when investigators claimed Robinson fired a single shot from a building about 140 yards away, striking Kirk in the neck and killing him.
Robinson was arrested as a suspect in Kirk’s murder on Sept. 12, 2025.
A family member of Robinson's reached out to a family friend, who contacted law enforcement and reported Robinson had "confessed to them or implied" that he was the shooter.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX and The Associated Press.