Utah agent testifies about booking Charlie Kirk shooting suspect into jail

(CN) — The day after Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting, around 8:30 p.m. Sept. 11, 2025, Agent Brian Davis got the call that a man had turned himself in.

Davis, with the Utah State Bureau of Investigation, testified Wednesday that he’d spent the day at a command post set up in the wake of Kirk’s shooting at a Turning Point USA rally at Utah Valley University. When he learned about suspect, Davis left the school in Orem, Utah, and flew to St. George in the southwestern part of the state.

His group reached the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 11:30 p.m. Davis met law enforcement officers and prosecutors, discussing their next steps in the murder case.

Then he saw Tyler Robinson. The 23-year-old, facing the death penalty if convicted of Kirk’s death, had arrived hours earlier with his parents and a family friend. That friend, Davis said, worked with the parents and sheriff’s office, facilitating Robinson’s surrender.

Now in the sheriff’s office, Davis saw Robinson on a TV monitor. Moments later, he spoke with him.

“Tyler Robinson,” Davis said when asked the suspect’s name.

“Did he tell you that himself?” asked Deputy Utah County Attorney Lauren Hunt.

“He did,” Davis answered.

Davis testified on the third day of Robinson’s preliminary hearing, held before Fourth District Judge Tony Graf Jr. The judge will determine sometime after the hearing’s conclusion, expected Friday, whether enough probable cause exists to advance the case toward trial.

Kirk’s widow, Erika, has attended the court sessions.

Prosecutors have said they intend to call four witnesses, followed by Robinson’s defense team calling two. Davis is the third prosecution witness to testify.

Detailing the hours after Robinson turned himself in to authorities, Davis said officers interviewed people separately — Robinson, his mother and father and the family friend. Authorities then formally arrested Robinson.

“I filled out the necessary paperwork at the jail,” Davis said.

It was 4 a.m. Sept. 12, less than 48 hours since Kirk’s fatal shooting.

Under Hunt’s questioning, Davis discussed more details about the case. Officers obtained search warrants for Robinson’s home, where he lived with a roommate, and his parent’s residence.

Officers interviewed the roommate, Lance Twiggs, twice — once on Sept. 12 and again in April. They obtained DNA samples from both Robinson and Twiggs, Davis said.

Davis noted that both state and federal authorities gave Twiggs immunity. However, it came with a caveat. Twiggs has immunity from any statements made during his interviews, but it doesn’t extend to any information authorities might discover outside of those conversations.

The prosecutor also asked Davis about a bullet found on the roof of the computer science building on Utah Valley University’s campus.

Authorities have said Robinson used a sniper’s pad on the roof of the Losee Center to shoot Kirk, who was holding an outdoor rally attended by thousands of people. Visiting campus four times on Sept. 10, Robinson fled after the shooting. Video surveillance captured his image in different areas of campus that day, and officials found items containing his and Twiggs’ DNA.

Davis said there was no line-of-sight from the computer science building, unlike the Losee Center. Also, the .223-caliber bullet was intact and hadn’t been fired.

Defense attorneys have pushed prosecution witnesses on certain details of the investigation. On Monday, attorney Kathey Nester questioned a former campus police officer on why he didn’t take an empty holster found near the scene into evidence.

On Wednesday, defense attorneys fought to redact or fully shield a recorded interview of Twiggs from reaching the public. Defense attorney Richard Novak said prosecutors would characterize that interview as a confession from his client.

According to Hunt, the video interview will contain mentions of texts and Discord threads.

Officials have said that Robinson texted Twiggs after the shooting, directing him to a note in which he wrote he had an opportunity to “take out” Kirk. Agents spoke with Twiggs, leading them to Discord messages from Robinson about a rifle drop point and watching the area where the rifle was left.

Graf ruled that the public could see portions of the video, pointing to specific parts attorneys must excise by Thursday morning. The judge said he’s balancing the need for transparency with Robinson’s constitutional rights.

“And it is a fine line,” he said, adding: “And sometimes it is an imperfect balancing act.”