Surveillance Video Places Tyler Robinson on Rooftop at Time of Charlie Kirk Shooting, Court Told

Surveillance video placed Tyler Robinson on the roof of a university building at the exact time Charlie Kirk was shot — and that footage just played in court for the first time.

Story Highlights

Prosecutors showed new surveillance video in court placing Tyler Robinson on the Losi building roof at Utah Valley University at 12:23 p.m. on September 10, 2025 — the moment of the shooting.
DNA evidence links Robinson to the rifle’s trigger, fired shell casings, unfired rounds, and a towel used to wrap the weapon — though his roommate’s DNA also appeared on the towel.
Robinson sent a text to his roommate saying he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred,” and prosecutors say a handwritten note to a lover also expressed his motive.
Defense attorneys challenged the DNA testing methods, raised concerns about an unsecured holster left at the scene, and questioned why only six officers were on duty for an event with thousands of attendees.

What the Surveillance Footage Shows

Prosecutors played video during the preliminary hearing showing Robinson arriving at Utah Valley University, climbing to the roof of the Losi building, and leaving after the shooting. State Agent David Hull testified that the footage tracks Robinson’s movements before and after the 12:23 p.m. shot. No single camera captured the exact moment of firing, but the combined video places Robinson on the roof during that window.

Officer Chris Bagley testified that he found a “sniper pad” on the roof — a prepared position from which the shot was fired. The video corroborates his account, showing Robinson crawling across the roof and then fleeing. Robinson turned himself in the following day, surrendering to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on September 11, 2025.

The DNA Evidence — and the Defense’s Challenge

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) analyst Amanda Bakker testified that DNA from the rifle trigger, shell casings, unfired cartridges, and the towel wrapping the gun matched Robinson. However, after retesting with a sample from Robinson’s roommate, Lance Twiggs, analysts determined the towel carried DNA from two people — Robinson and Twiggs. Defense attorney Burt argued the FBI analyst “can’t match Mr. Robinson to the questioned samples” and pushed back on the testing methods used.

Twiggs cooperated with investigators, and his DNA on the towel raises questions the defense has highlighted — though prosecutors have not charged Twiggs, and no direct evidence puts him at the scene. The defense has not produced video, witnesses, or forensic analysis disputing the surveillance footage showing Robinson alone on the roof at the time of the shooting.

Written Words and Security Gaps Become Key Issues

Prosecutors presented two written pieces of evidence pointing to motive. Robinson texted his roommate that he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.” A separate handwritten note to a lover also expressed hatred toward Kirk. These documents have not been publicly refuted by the defense, which has focused its challenge on physical and forensic evidence rather than the written record.

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— Texasippigirl🇺🇲🤠 (@Texasippigirl1) July 10, 2026

Defense attorneys also flagged that only six officers were assigned to an event drawing thousands of people, and that an empty holster found on the grass was left at the scene without being marked or taken into evidence. These gaps in security and evidence handling are real concerns — they speak to how the case was managed. But they do not, on their own, point to a different shooter. The core evidence — video, DNA, written confessions, and Robinson’s surrender — remains largely intact heading into trial. The broader context is sobering: a January 2026 poll found that 87% of Americans say political violence is a growing problem in this country. Whatever the jury ultimately decides, this case is a stark reminder of where political hatred, left unchecked, can lead.