Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on Utah Valley University’s campus on Sept. 10, 2025. Two days later, suspect Tyler Robinson was taken into custody.

Here’s a timeline of significant events in the legal case against Robinson, and moments over the last 12 months where Kirk’s death affected other aspects of life in Utah and the U.S.

Timeline

Sept. 16, 2025 • Robinson made his first court appearance, over a video stream from the Utah County jail, to hear the seven charges filed against him — including a count of aggravated murder, which carries the potential of the death penalty if he’s convicted. Robinson only spoke once, to say his name.

Sept. 17, 2025 • Students at Utah Valley University returned to classes for the first time since Kirk’s death. Some took a moment to stop by the closed courtyard where he was killed.

Sept. 24, 2025 • Utah County officials announced the county had hired defense attorney Kathryn Nester as Robinson’s public defender. County officials estimated that hiring Nester would cost $750,000 over the following year. The county in February asked the Utah Legislature for $2 million to pay for Robinson’s defense.

Sept. 26, 2025 • After a nine-day hiatus, Utah viewers could watch “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC4 Utah again, when the station’s owner, Nexstar Media, brought the show back locally. ABC had suspended the show nationally Sept. 17 after Kimmel on Sept. 15 commented on Robinson’s arrest, saying that “the MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid … as anything other than one of them.”

Sept. 30, 2025 • Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, returned to Utah, bringing the “American Comeback Tour” to Utah State University in Logan. Security was tight for the event, where several speakers paid tribute to Kirk. The audience booed Gov. Spencer Cox when he spoke.

Oct. 2, 2025 • Geoff Landward, Utah’s commissioner of higher education, said “the only appropriate response” to Kirk’s death was to commit more strongly to safeguarding free speech on campus.

Jan. 14, 2026 • Astrid Tuminez, then-president of Utah Valley University, announced she would step down at the end of the academic year. Jon Anderson, a Utah native, took over as UVU’s new president in July.

Jan. 29, 2026 • George Zinn, the 71-year-old man who added to the confusion in the moments after Kirk’s death by claiming he fired the shot, pleaded no contest to a charge of obstruction of justice, and guilty to two charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. (After his arrest, police found child sexual abuse material on Zinn’s phone.) Zinn was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

Feb. 6, 2026 • Utah Rep. Walt Brooks, a Republican from St. George, moved to ban open carry on the state’s public college campuses. Gov. Cox ultimately signed the bill into law.

Feb. 24, 2026 • Fourth District Judge Tony Graf ruled that he would not disqualify the Utah County attorney’s office from prosecuting Robinson, saying the fact that one prosecutor’s daughter attended the UVU event where Kirk was killed posed “no significant risk” of a conflict of interest in the case.

April 10, 2026 • According to a September search warrant unsealed in April, Robinson wrote in a handwritten letter to his romantic partner at the time that “I left the house this morning on a mission. I am likely dead, or facing a lengthy prison sentence. I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.”

April 16, 2026 • Utah Valley University canceled its planned commencement address from author and educator Sharon McMahon after conservatives including Utah Rep. Burgess Owens and Utah Sen. Mike Lee raised issue with some of her past social media comments, in which she wrote Kirk’s fans “might not realize why there is so much backlash to posts eulogizing his death.”

McMahon initially pushed back against the criticism; the university ultimately canceled because of “increased safety concerns.” In May, the Utah Board of Higher Education passed a rule requiring a more formal and open process for choosing commencement speakers at public colleges.

May 8, 2026 • Graf ruled that cameras would be allowed in the courtroom during Robinson’s hearings. Robinson’s attorneys had argued for months against cameras, citing rhetoric from elected officials and “sensational and misleading” news coverage as reasons to ban them. Kirk’s widow, Erika, and Utah news organizations (including The Salt Lake Tribune) had argued to have cameras capture the proceedings.

July 6, 2026 • Robinson’s preliminary hearing began, with Kirk’s parents and his widow, Erika, in attendance, along with Donald Trump Jr. The family left the courtroom before the judge watched surveillance footage that showed Kirk’s death. The preliminary hearing continued for a week, with an interview from Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner and discussions of DNA evidence.

July 27, 2026 • Utah County prosecutors argued in a brief that Robinson targeted Kirk because the commentator represented a “political movement” opposed to gay marriage and transgender rights.

Sept. 1, 2026 • Graf ruled that Robinson could stand trial for aggravated murder and six other charges — meaning he could face the death penalty if convicted. A hearing was set for Oct. 23 to set a trial date.