Explicit messages engraved into bullet that allegedly killed Charlie Kirk read in court
Prosecutors have laid out the evidence they believe justifies taking Charlie Kirk's 23-year-old alleged killer to trial in a US court.
Five days of preliminary proceedings kicked off on Monday (6 July) in Utah, during which graphic video of the Turning Point USA founder's murder was played for District Judge Tony Graf.
DNA samples, extensive surveillance footage and an alleged digital paper trail have been introduced as evidence, as well as the bullets sporting explicit engravings that were found in the weapon that fired the fatal shot.
Robinson - who has not yet entered a plea - is facing charges of aggravated murder, felony use of a firearm, committing a violent offence in the presence of a child, witness tampering and obstruction of justice.
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He was arrested in Utah on 12 September, 2025, in wake of a 33-hour manhunt which ensued after Turning Point USA founder Kirk was shot dead.
The right-wing political activist, 31, was gunned down in front of horrified spectators while he was taking part in a college debate at Utah Valley University two days prior.
This week, prosecutors - who are seeking the death penalty - have been attempting to convince Judge Graf that they have sufficient evidence to take Robinson to trial.
Testimony delivered by Lance Twiggs on Thursday (9 July) could be a deciding factor, as the court heard the suspect's former roommate and romantic partner share his account of Robinson's alleged confession.
Prosecutors claim that Robinson left a note which laid out his plan at the home he shared with Twiggs, which read: "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.
"I wish we could have lived in a world where this was not necessary. Please try and find joy in this life. I love you always, Tyler."
The court in Utah heard 22-year-old Twiggs explain how he received a text from Robinson just moments after the bullet struck Kirk, which instructed him to 'drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard'.
After seemingly finding the note prosecutors say was hidden there, Twiggs then responded saying, 'What????????????', before following up with another message that stated: "You’re joking right????"
Robinson is then alleged to have responded: "F*** I TRIED TO DELETE THAT."
The court was shown further details of their exchange, during which Robinson allegedly told his roommate that he was 'sorry to involve' him.
When asked if he was the one who pulled the trigger, it is claimed that the suspect responded saying: "I am, I’m sorry."
Footage of a video interview that Twiggs had with authorities was also played in court for Judge Graf. Twiggs spoke to officials in the days after Kirk's assassination, and again on 20 April this year.
He was given immunity for the statements, meaning that the things he said cannot be used against him in a potential criminal case.
According to Fox News, footage of Twiggs showed him telling cops that Robinson had asked him to borrow an engraving tool around a month prior to the shooting of Kirk.
"I don't remember exactly when, but he had said he was planning to go hunting with his family," Twiggs told prosecutor Ryan McBride in the recording.
"And he asked me...if we had a Dremel tool, because he said he wanted to create messages on bullets."
Prosecutors claim that cartridges in the alleged murder weapon and a spent casing had messages scrawled into them.
These featured messages including:
- "Notices. Bulges. OWO. What's this?"
- "Hey fascist! Catch!"
- "O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao"
- "If you read this, you're gay. LMAO."
A cartridge with the words 'Test Shot' was also found at the home that Twiggs and Robinson shared, prosecutors said.
Lindsay Hahn, a University at Buffalo associate professor who researches ideological extremism, previously told NBC she believes these engravings 'indicate that the shooter wanted to get a message across and therefore be talked about online'.
"It sort of seems like these messages, at the very minimum, were selected because he knew they were going to be talked about," Hahn said.
Elsewhere in the footage of Twiggs' interview that was played in court, he was seen telling officials about the alleged tearful confession that Robinson made to him the day after Kirk's death.
"I just asked him in person if what he said was true the night before, and he said it was, started crying a little bit and said he wishes he hadn't done it," Twiggs said.
"Eventually, he said he would talk to his parents or turn himself over." Twiggs said that he 'had never' heard Robinson discuss Kirk 'specifically', but noted that he often spoke about President Donald Trump and his policies.
The court also saw images of the alleged murder weapon, a bolt-action rifle, for the first time. It was found wrapped in a towel in a wooded area close to where Kirk was shot.
Judge Graf is set to decide if prosecutors have enough evidence to bring Robinson to trial on Friday (10 July), which marks the conclusion of this week’s preliminary hearing.
Timeline of events following Charlie Kirk’s assassination
10 September 2025 - Day of the attack
12pm - Kirk presents a scheduled event at Utah Valley University (UVU)
12.23pm - While taking a question on gun violence, Kirk is shot in the neck by a single bullet. Footage shows the podcaster slumped over before being carried in a car as the crowd erupts into panic.
2.40pm - President Donald Trump later confirmed Kirk’s passing on Truth Social, writing: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
11 September 2025 - Gun and engraved bullet casings discovered
At a press conference, authorities say they had discovered a bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel, as well as some bullet casings with phrases like ‘Hey fascist, catch!’ and ‘notices, bulges, OWO, what's this?’. The latter is a reference to the furry subculture, which centres on human-like animals.
Meanwhile, the FBI releases images and video of a 'person of interest'. Tyler Robinson's mother allegedly recognises him and his parents confront him.
Later that day, Robinson turns himself in to the police.
12 September 2025 - Tyler Robinson’s arrest announced
While appearing on Fox and Friends, Trump says a suspect was in custody: “Essentially, someone that was very close to him turned him in.”
Later, authorities announce Robinson’s arrest, who, according to investigators, had confessed to his father, leading to him calling a family friend, who then called the US Marshals, who detained the 22-year-old.
Kirk’s widow, Erika, gives her first statement after her husband’s passing, saying that his movement ‘is not going anywhere’.
She adds: “You have no idea the fire you've ignited within this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.”
16 September 2025 - Charges against Robinson announced
Prosecutors reveal the charges against Robinson included aggravated murder, commission of a violent offence in the presence of a child, two counts of witness tampering, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm. Robinson makes his first initial court appearance.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said prosecutors will seek the death penalty if he is convicted, adding: “I do not take this decision lightly.”
21 September 2025 - Erika Kirk says she ‘forgives’ his killer
At Kirk’s memorial service on 21 September, the 37-year-old takes to the stage to pay tribute to her husband and reveal why she’d ‘forgiven’ his killer.
“My husband, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” she said.
"On the cross, our saviour said: ‘Father, forgive them for they not know what they do.’
"That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do."
6 July 2026 - Robinson back in court
A five-day preliminary hearing begins, where prosecutors lay out the evidence against Robinson.
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson, US News, True Crime, Politics
Olivia Burke