I believe there is probable cause to charge the defendant with these charges because:
The following information was obtained by your affiant from police officers, multiple
video recordings posted on social media websites, Utah Valley University campus
surveillance cameras and those who witnessed the incident.
On September 10, 2025, Charles James Kirk was at the Utah Valley University (UVU)
campus in Orem, Utah, for a political event. Mr. Kirk is a conservative political activist
who was scheduled to speak at an event in the courtyard area on the UVU campus. The
courtyard area is to the west of the Losee Center building. According to video
recordings, Charles was wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants, sitting under a white
canopy in a courtyard of the campus facing to the east. The event was attended by
hundreds of individuals. Charles was surrounded by people, with multiple individuals to
his left, right, and rear, and front of the canopy. Behind the canopy was a walkway used
for access to various parts of the university.
Charles was holding a microphone and speaking to a crowd. While speaking into the
microphone, a loud gunshot was heard at approximately 1223 hours, and Charles
appeared to have been hit in the neck. Blood was seen coming out of the left side of his
neck as he fell over to his left. Charles was transported to the Timpanogos Regional
Hospital in Orem. Charles was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Investigators reviewed the Utah Valley University surveillance cameras. While reviewing
the surveillance cameras, investigators observed an individual on the rooftop of the
Losee Center building on the UVU campus at the time of the shooting. Hereafter, the
unidentified individual will be referred to as "Suspect". Based on surveillance camera
footage, Suspect appears to be a white male with dark colored hair, wearing a dark
colored hat, sunglasses, a long sleeve black shirt with a picture of an American flag and
an eagle printed on the shirt, dark colored jeans, and white/gray shoes with white
colored shoelaces (the shoes appear to be consistent with Chuck Taylor/Converse style
shoes). Suspect is also carrying a dark colored backpack on his back. Suspect walks
with a distinctive gait. Prior to the shooting, Suspect appears to walk with a stiff, right leg
and at a relatively slow pace. Suspect's ability to bend his right leg appears to be
restricted. Investigators were able to track Suspect's movements on the UVU campus,
starting at approximately 1150 hours on 9/10/2025.
At approximately 1150 hours, a UVU surveillance camera first captured Suspect walking
across a grassy area north of Campus Drive at approximately 800 West. Suspect
walked south through the parking lot and approached a pedestrian tunnel that runs
underneath Campus Drive. Before entering the tunnel, Suspect paused at the top of the
stairs and pulled out what appeared to be a cellphone from his right pocket using his
right hand at approximately 1153 hours. Suspect eventually put what appeared to be a
cellphone back in his right pants pocket using his right hand. Surveillance captured
Suspect making his way toward the Losee center.
At approximately 1202 hours, Suspect was recorded walking on the north side of the
Losee Center building, walking with the same gait as observed earlier. Suspect entered
the Losee Center building through a set of doors on the southeast corner of the Losee
Center building. At approximately 1215 hours, Suspect was observed walking up the
stairs that lead to the common area adjacent to the Losee Center building. Suspect
walked to a short concrete wall that separates the common area from the rooftop of the
Losee Center building. At approximately 1217 hours, Suspect climbed over the short
wall and appeared to crouch down on the north side of the wall on the rooftop. At
approximately 1222 hours, Suspect stood up and started running across the rooftop of
the Losee Center building. The notable limp from previous surveillance was absent.
Suspect ran to the west side of the rooftop and appeared to scoot along the rooftop
area as he got closer to the edge of the rooftop. At approximately 1222 hours, Suspect
laid down in a position consistent with a prone shooting position near the edge of the
rooftop and appeared to be facing west, in the direction of the courtyard area.
The rooftop of the Losee Center building overlooks the courtyard area where the event
featuring Charlie Kirk was taking place. The Losee Center building is east of the
courtyard area. At approximately 1223 hours, Charlie Kirk was shot. At approximately
1223 hours, surveillance shows that Suspect stood up suddenly from the edge of the
rooftop and sprinted north on the rooftop of the Losee Center building. Suspect ran to
the northeast corner of the Losee Center building and approached the edge of the
rooftop. Suspect placed a dark colored item on the rooftop and proceeded to lower
himself off the rooftop. Suspect dropped off the rooftop onto the grass below. Suspect
ran north near the parking lot to the east of the Losee Center. At approximately 1224
hours, Suspect ran north across the Campus Drive road. Suspect appeared to be
carrying an item, whose identity is not clear from the surveillance.
The area to the north of Campus Drive road where Suspect crossed over consists of a
grassy area with trees on the edge of the UVU campus. Investigators discovered a bolt
action rifle wrapped in a dark colored towel. The rifle was determined to be a Mauser
Model 98, .30-06 caliber bolt action rifle. The rifle had a scope mounted on top of it.
Investigators noted inscriptions that had been engraved on casings found with the rifle.
Inscriptions on a fired casing read "Notices Buldge OWO what's this?". Inscriptions on
the three unfired casings read: "hey fascist! CATCH! (up arrow symbol, right arrow
symbol, and three down arrow symbols)". A second unfired casing read "O Bella ciao,
Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Ciao, ciao!". A third unfired casing read "If you read This, you are
GAY Lmao".
Investigators also discovered a shoe impression on the northeast corner rooftop edge of
the Losee Center building. This shoe impression was located in the vicinity where
Suspect climbed down from the rooftop. The shoe impression is consistent with the
shoe sole characteristics of a Converse/Chuck Taylor shoe.
On the evening of September 11, 2025 a family member of Tyler Robinson reached out
to a family friend, who contacted the Washington County Sheriff's Office with
information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the
incident. This information was relayed to the Utah County Sheriff's Office and scene
investigators at UVU. This information was also conveyed to the FBI.
Investigators reviewed additional video footage from UVU surveillance, and identified
Robinson arriving on UVU campus in a grey Dodge Challenger at approximately 08:29
on September 10 th , in which he is observed on video in a plain maroon t-shirt, light
colored shorts, a black hat with a white logo, and light colored shoes. When
encountered in-person by investigators in Washington County on September 12, early
morning hours, Robinson was observed in consistent clothing with the surveillance
images.
Investigators interviewed a family member of Robinson, who stated that Robinson had
become more political in recent years. The family member referenced a recent incident
in which Robinson came to dinner, prior to September 10, 2025, and in conversation
with another family member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to UVU.
They talked about why they didn't like him and the viewpoints he had. The family
member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate. The family member also
confirmed Robinson had a grey Dodge Challenger.
Investigators identified an individual as the roommate of Robinson. Investigators
interviewed the roommate, who stated that his roommate (referring to Robinson) made
a joke on discord. Investigators asked if he would show them the messages on discord,
he opened it and showed several messages to investigators and allowed investigators
to take photos of the screen as each message was shown by Robinson's roommate.
These photos consisted of various messages, including content of messages between
the phone contact name "Tyler" with an emoji icon, and Robinson's roommate's device.
The content of these messages included messages affiliated with the contact "Tyler"
stating a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush, messages
related to visually watching the area where a rifle was left, and a message referring to
having left the rifle wrapped in a towel. The messages also refer to engraving bullets,
and a mention of a scope and the rifle being unique. Messages from the contact Tyler
also mention that he had changed outfits.
Based on the evidence detailed in this statement, I believe there is probable cause that
Tyler Robinson committed the crimes of aggravated murder by shooting Charlie Kirk in
a circumstance that put many around him at grave risk of death, felony discharge of a
firearm, and obstruction of justice for moving and hiding the rifle believed to be used in
the shooting.
By submitting this affidavit, I declare under criminal penalty of the State of Utah that the foregoing is true and correct.
/S/ Davis, Brian
