PROVO, Utah (Reuters) - A police officer at the university where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed testified on Monday that he saw what appeared to be a 'sniper pad' on the roof from which the fatal shot was fired. The testimony came as prosecutors sought to persuade a judge that Tyler Robinson should stand trial for the murder.
Preliminary Hearing Details
In a packed Provo courtroom, Kirk's widow Erika Kirk sat just a few feet from Robinson, who is accused of driving four hours from his hometown of Washington, Utah, to kill Kirk on September 10. Robinson, 23, wore a gray jacket and sat between his lawyers, taking notes. Members of Robinson's family also attended the hearing.
Kirk, a co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was credited with energizing young voters behind Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Among those attending the hearing were Donald Trump Jr. and right-wing activist Jack Posobiec, according to media reports.
Prosecution's Case
During the week-long proceedings, state prosecutors are seeking to convince District Court Judge Tony Graf that probable cause exists to believe Robinson fired the single shot that killed Kirk in front of thousands of people in Orem, Utah. Prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty for Robinson, who was studying to be an electrician.
Kirk was shot while appearing at Utah Valley University, 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, for a campus debate that drew crowds and gave him national prominence.
Officer's Testimony
Chris Bagley, who was on duty as a university police officer that day, testified as the first prosecution witness. 'He was answering a question, and then I heard a shot fired,' Bagley said. 'Everybody started getting up and starting to run in a sort of chaotic, panic situation.' Bagley said he saw Kirk slump to the left after the gunshot.
Bagley said an initial report, later found to be mistaken, indicated a suspect had been taken into custody. He ran to a campus building from which he believed the shot came and climbed four flights of stairs to the roof. There, he found a screwdriver and disturbances in the gravel, which were photographed and entered into evidence. The depressions in the gravel appeared to be made by elbows, knees, and feet. 'To me it looks like a sniper pad,' Bagley said.
Video Evidence
Bagley said campus police video showed a person on the roof getting into position to shoot Kirk, taking a shot, then running to the northeast side of the building. The person dropped off the roof into grass below and escaped.
In cross-examination, Robinson's lawyer Kathryn Nester asked about security at the event. Bagley said six campus police officers were on duty, along with Kirk's security detail, but there were no metal detector checks for firearms. Bagley also said he saw an empty pistol holster on the ground at the top of the courtyard where Kirk was shot, but it was neither recovered as evidence nor checked for fingerprints. Bagley now works for a different police department.
Next Steps
If the judge finds probable cause, Robinson would enter a plea at an arraignment that could take place the same day, and the case would be set for trial at a later date. He faces seven criminal charges, including aggravated murder.
