Fox News correspondent Garrett Tenney has the latest on a Utah judge's ruling that accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson will stand trial on aggravated murder charges and remain eligible for the death penalty, after prosecutors argued he knowingly endangered others during the 2025 shooting at a Turning Point USA event, on 'Jesse Watters Primetime.'
Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will stand trial after a Utah judge ruled Tuesday that prosecutors presented enough evidence to move forward on all seven charges against him.
Robinson pleaded not guilty to all charges moments after Judge Tony Graf issued the ruling. Graf also ruled that prosecutors may continue seeking the death penalty in the case. He found that the state established probable cause for the victim-targeting allegation, allowing the capital sentencing enhancement to move forward.
"Viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, this evidence is sufficient at this stage to support a reasonable belief that the defendant is the individual who shot and killed Charlie Kirk," Graf said.
TYLER ROBINSON HEARING COULD DECIDE DEATH PENALTY FATE, FINALLY SEE PLEA IN CHARLIE KIRK CASE
Tyler Robinson, charged in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, sits as his defense team argues before the judge during closing arguments at his preliminary hearing in 4th District Court in Provo on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune)
Graf emphasized that the standard at a preliminary hearing is not whether prosecutors have proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt, but whether there is enough evidence to send the charges to trial.
"Whether the state can prove the aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt remains for trial," Graf said. "Count one is bound over for trial."
PROSECUTORS HAMMER TYLER ROBINSON'S BID TO DERAIL DEATH PENALTY IN CHARLIE KIRK MURDER CASE
Tyler Robinson pleaded not guilty to all seven charges filed by prosecutors. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune)
The judge also sided with prosecutors on the victim-targeting allegation against Robinson, concluding that the state had established probable cause for the allegation.
Graf ultimately ordered Robinson to stand trial on all seven charges: aggravated murder; felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury; two counts of obstruction of justice; two counts of witness tampering; and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.
CHARLIE KIRK MURDER CASE AS 'STRAIGHT-FORWARD' AS IT GETS, PROSECUTORS ARGUE AS CASE NEARS TRIAL DECISION
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Tyler Robinson, charged in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, sits during closing arguments at his preliminary hearing in 4th District Court in Provo on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. ( )
The aggravated murder and firearm charges are first-degree felonies, while the obstruction charges are second-degree felonies and the witness tampering charges are third-degree felonies. The final charge,committing a violent offense in the presence of a child, is a Class A misdemeanor.
