Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, will stand trial after a judge found that prosecutors have enough evidence to move forward on charges.
Judge Tony Graf said, as per Fox News, “Viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, this evidence is sufficient at this stage to support a reasonable belief that the defendant is the individual who shot and killed Charlie Kirk.”
“Whether the state can prove the aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt remains for trial,” he said. “Count one is bound over for trial.” He further ordered Robinson to stand trial for all seven charges.
“Today’s decision, which comes nearly a year since Charlie was taken from us, marks an important step in our family’s pursuit of justice for him. Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father. We are grateful to all who have continued to pray for us, support us, and stand with us through a year of unimaginable grief,” Erika Kirk wrote on social media. “As the next phase of the judicial process begins, our family remains united in our love for Charlie, our commitment to the pursuit of justice, and our prayer for a transparent and timely process.”
Earlier this month, prosecutors submitted a filing urging the judge to uphold all the charges.
“Defendant does not challenge the substance of the evidence demonstrating that he was the person who crawled to the sniper’s perch on the Losee Building rooftop, fired the fatal shot that killed Mr. Charlie Kirk, hid the rifle in a wooded area, got rid of some of the clothing he was wearing, and told his roommate to delete their texts about the shooting. Rather, he merely asserts the repeatedly rejected claim that the overwhelming evidence establishing some of these facts could not be introduced as reliable hearsay at this preliminary hearing,” the new filing says. “Defendant therefore raises no valid challenge to the evidence supporting Count 1 as at least murder; Count 2, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury; Counts 3 and 4, obstruction of justice; or Count 5, tampering with a witness.”
“The evidence here easily establishes at least probable cause to believe that Defendant did so when he intentionally fired his grandfather’s high-powered rifle towards a crowd of thousands, several of whom were in the line of fire between him and Mr. Kirk, while others were in close proximity to Mr. Kirk,” it adds. “Indeed, the evidence is more than sufficient to support a finding beyond a reasonable doubt.”
