A Utah judge ruled Tuesday that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will stand trial for aggravated murder in connection with the September 10, 2025 shooting at Utah Valley University, reported CBS News.
Robinson later turned in a plea of not guilty on all counts.
Judge Tony Graf sided with prosecutors, who argued that the evidence presented during Robinson's preliminary hearing is sufficient to proceed with the aggravated murder charge. The 23-year-old could face the death penalty, life imprisonment without parole, or 25 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole if convicted.
Graf reached the decision after reviewing 24 pages of notes he took during closing arguments earlier Tuesday, before the court in Provo recessed.
Prosecutors presented much of their case during a five-day preliminary hearing in July. The aggravated murder charge includes an allegation that Robinson knowingly endangered other people when he killed Kirk. Utah prosecutors contend that Robinson targeted Kirk because of his political views and was aware that children were among those who could witness the shooting.
Following the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, filed a request asking Graf to issue his ruling by September 1.
During Tuesday's proceedings, prosecutors argued that Robinson deliberately killed Kirk because of their political differences.
The defense concentrated largely on the aggravating circumstances that could permit prosecutors to pursue the death penalty. Robinson's attorneys argued that the state had not established the required factor that other lives were knowingly placed at great risk, pointing out that the shooter had a clear line of sight and fired only once over the crowd.
Prosecutors rejected that argument, telling the court: "You can't shoot a rifle into a crowd of 3,000 people and not know that you are posing a significant risk of death."
Robinson faces additional charges, including obstruction of justice, which carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison, and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, punishable by five years to life in prison, according to the Utah County Attorney's Office.