Suspect in Charlie Kirk's assassination pleads not guilty to all charges, could face death penalty

Tyler Robinson.

A judge in Utah ruled on Tuesday that the murder case against Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk last September, will advance to trial and that he could be eligible to face the death penalty if convicted. Robinson subsequently pleaded not guilty to all seven charges in the case. 

Lawyers for Robinson had been maneuvering to avoid a trial altogether or at least have the chance of Robinson facing the death penalty thrown out. They were unsuccessful on both fronts as Utah District Judge Tony Graf, according to The Associated Press, agreed with prosecutors that they have "a mountain of evidence" showing Robinson is the sniper who pulled the trigger and fatally shot Kirk as he spoke to thousands of people on the campus of Utah Valley University last year. 

Last month, Robinson's lawyers made a stunning argument for why he should be spared the death penalty, contending that Robinson killed Kirk only and not anyone else. One of the key components in the Utah aggravated murder law under which Robinson is charged is whether he put others in danger with his alleged actions on the day in question. Pandemonium rang out in the moments after Kirk was shot, and prosecutors said the threat of ricocheting bullets, among other factors, posed a potentially deadly risk to anyone who was there that day. 

"The question at this stage, however, is not whether the state proved the aggravator beyond a reasonable doubt," Graf said from the bench, according to Fox News. "Because credible evidence and reasonable inferences support probable cause as to each element, under that limited standard, the state has met its burden."

In addition to the aggravated murder charge, Robinson faces six other charges, including felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of tampering with a witness, and violent offense committed in the presence of a child.

The news that the judge allowed the case to advance to trial was welcomed by Charlie Kirk's surviving family members. His widow, Erika Kirk, posted a statement on X from the family, which said, "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." According to The New York Times, Erika Kirk was in the courtroom for Tuesday's hearing. 

The family added, "Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father. We are grateful to all who have continued to pray for us, support us, and stand with us through a year of unimaginable grief."

Graf, the judge, said he would set a date for the trial at the next hearing, which is scheduled for October 23. Below, watch courtroom remarks from Graf made at Tuesday's hearing.