Detective Charlie Kirk arrested Tyler Robinson with the suspected murder weapon
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PROVO, Utah – A towel and screwdriver were found during the investigation into the murder of Charlie Kirk that allegedly had the DNA of his killer Tyler Robinson on it – as well as that of his former boyfriend and roommate, Lance Twiggs.
Robinson, 23, allegedly used a towel to hide the alleged murder in the woods near Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
He is accused of shooting and killing Kirk, 31, during a Turning Point USA event at the school that day.
CHARLIE KIRK’S FAMILY IS DEFENDING WITH AN ALLEGED KILLER
Charlie Kirk was killed on September 10 during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
It’s not clear what the screwdriver was for, but police testified at Robinson’s initial hearing this week that he found it near the sniper’s perch overlooking the TPUSA event.
Both Twiggs and Robinson provided buccal swabs to law enforcement that were used to build their complete DNA profiles.
Robinson’s trial begins Monday and is expected to last a week. Prosecutors must establish probable cause to clear the way for a jury to go to trial on many counts, including aggravated murder, which carry a possible death penalty.
UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY CHOOSES COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER PRAISE CHARLIE KIRK AFTER HIS MURDER.
Tyler Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, appeared during a hearing in the 4th District Court in Provo, Utah on Dec. 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via Pool)
David Hull, of the Utah Department of Public Safety, returned to the witness stand Tuesday morning as prosecutors played surveillance video they said showed Robinson walking around the facility before and after the shooting, and getting in and out of his Dodge Challenger.
The second witness of the day, Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina with the State Bureau of Investigations, led an evidence response team examining the scenes at UVU after the shooting.
Faumuina testified that his team found a screwdriver on the roof of the Losee Centre, where Robinson allegedly fired the shot that killed Kirk.
Charlie Kirk’s parents, Robert W. Kirk and Kathryn Kirk arrive at the Fourth Judicial District Courthouse to attend the trial of Tyler Robinson, accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in Provo, Utah, US, July 6, 2026. (REUTERS/Jim Urquhart)
He also testified that his team found the suspected murder weapon, a Mauser 98 bolt-action pistol that was wrapped in a dark-colored towel nearby. It was also fitted to fire .30-06 rounds, which matched the number of bullet fragments found during Kirk’s autopsy.
Faumuina revealed that both the towel and the screwdriver had DNA associated with the same two men – Robinson and Twiggs.
In a handwritten letter and text messages, Robinson allegedly confessed to Twiggs, who was living with him at the time and was cooperating with investigators. Twiggs has not been charged with a crime, and the alleged discovery of his DNA in the evidence is expected to strengthen the case against Robinson.
THE MURDER OF CHARLIE KIRK: THE TIME OF THE UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING, TYLER ROBINSON WAS DECEIVED
Matt Robinson and Amber Robinson arrive at the Fourth District Court to attend the trial of their son, Tyler Robinson, who is accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in Provo, Utah, US, July 6, 2026. (REUTERS/Jim Urquhart)
Later Tuesday, FBI analyst Amanda Bakker testified that Robinson may have been a major contributor to DNA samples found on both items. Twiggs is believed to contribute less to both.
Prosecutor Ryan McBride objected several times during Bakker’s cross-examination by Attorney Michael Burt, saying the defense went well “beyond the scope of finding probable cause.”
At one point, Judge Tony Graf Jr. he asked how far he intended to go in the line of questions, to which Burt replied he had one more question before moving on.
PARENTS OF CHARLIE KIRK, WIDOW TO APPEAR AT TYLER ROBINSON’S FIRST HEARING NEXT WEEK
A still image from video shows Tyler Robinson, accused in the shooting death of law enforcement activist Charlie Kirk, attending a hearing presided over by District Court Judge Tony Graf at the Fourth Circuit Court in Provo, Utah, US, July 6, 2026. (Reuters TV/Pool via REUTERS.)
“I’ll hold them to that,” McBride said, drawing laughter from the courtroom.
As the DNA questioning continued for much of the afternoon, Erika Kirk at one point shook her head as she listened to Burt grill Bakker.
Viewers in the gallery, including Erika Kirk, watched intently as Bakker explained a graph showing specific DNA markers.
Kirk leaned forward and tilted his head as he listened to the testimony.
Robinson was also listening and shaking. A member of Robinson’s family yawned.
Kirk’s father occasionally took notes.
Robinson has yet to apply.
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If prosecutors succeed in finding probable cause, which experts say is widely expected, he will be asked to do so.
“Unless the prosecutor somehow forgot how he got to court, there’s no way the state could fail to find cause,” Maryland attorney Randolph Rice, who represented Rachel Morin’s family, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
