--- title: "Tyler Robinson asks judge to remove death penalty in Charlie Kirk shooting" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/tyler-robinson-asks-judge-to-remove-death-penalty-in-charlie-kirk-shooting" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/tyler-robinson-asks-judge-to-remove-death-penalty-in-charlie-kirk-shooting" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/tyler-robinson-asks-judge-to-remove-death-penalty-in-charlie-kirk-shooting.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/tyler-robinson-asks-judge-to-remove-death-penalty-in-charlie-kirk-shooting" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-12T17:26:28.880Z" source_reported: "2026-08-12T16:42:58.528Z" updated: "2026-08-12T17:26:28.880Z" trust_score: 56 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-12T17:15:15.196416+00:00" --- # Tyler Robinson asks judge to remove death penalty in Charlie Kirk shooting *Defence argues the shooter hit only the intended target at a Utah event attended by thousands last September* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 56 of 100, higher is better. Trust 56 because the AP report names attorney Lance Twiggs and cites specific date and location, but lacks independent sources. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95 for clear context, named quotes, specific details, and explanation of next steps. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15; language is measured with no sensational exaggeration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Tyler Robinson’s lawyers filed a motion to remove the death penalty as a possible sentence, arguing he hit only the intended target at a Utah Valley University event on 10 September 2025. - Prosecutors say DNA evidence ties Robinson to the suspected murder weapon and that he confessed to his roommate. - Judge Tony Graf will decide on 1 September whether the case proceeds to trial after closing arguments. - The defence disputes that Robinson targeted Kirk over his political views, citing a lack of evidence beyond one statement to his roommate. Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, have asked a Utah judge to block the death penalty in the case. They argue that Robinson hit only the intended target during the shooting at a Utah Valley University event on 10 September 2025. The defence says prosecutors have not proven that other attendees were endangered, which is required under state law for a capital crime. Prosecutors allege Robinson told his roommate he killed Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.” The defence disputes this as sufficient evidence of motive, noting searches of Robinson’s apartment, computers and telephone found nothing else to support the claim. Prosecutors presented DNA evidence linking Robinson to the suspected murder weapon and say he confessed. Robinson has not entered a plea. Closing arguments in the preliminary hearing are scheduled for 1 September. Judge Tony Graf will then decide whether the case proceeds to trial. Robinson turned himself in a day after the shooting. His lawyers previously tried to remove the death penalty after prosecutors were found in contempt of court for discussing the case with the media, but Graf rejected the request. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the prosecution’s allegation that Robinson confessed to his roommate. None of the centre-rated digests mention the defence’s claim that searches of Robinson’s apartment, computers and telephone found no evidence beyond one statement about Kirk’s political views. ## Who covered it Shares of the 24 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 42% (10) - Centre: 50% (12) - Right: 8% (2) 1 of 25 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-12T17:15:15.196416+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-12T17:30:34.725Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The Associated Press, whose full report is printed below, led on the defence argument that Robinson “hit the intended target” and did not endanger others. It carried the defence’s claim that searches of Robinson’s apartment and devices found no evidence beyond one statement to his roommate about Kirk’s political views. The AP also reported that prosecutors presented DNA evidence linking Robinson to the weapon and that his lawyers did not address the DNA in their latest filing. - The Salt Lake Tribune’s digest, the only other left-rated report with detail, focused on Robinson’s request to block the death penalty and dismiss charges. None of the left-rated digests mentioned the prosecution’s allegation that Robinson confessed to his roommate. ### Centre - All 12 centre-rated digests led on the defence’s argument that Robinson should not face the death penalty because he hit only the intended target. WPLG, whose full report is printed below, carried the defence’s claim that prosecutors had not proven other attendees were endangered. It also reported that prosecutors presented DNA evidence and that Robinson’s lawyers questioned its reliability but did not offer an alternative theory for the killing. - None of the centre-rated digests mentioned the prosecution’s allegation that Robinson confessed to his roommate. None carried the defence’s claim that searches of Robinson’s devices found no evidence beyond one statement about Kirk’s political views. ### Right - Fox News’s digest led on Robinson’s request to remove the death penalty, framing it as an argument that prosecutors failed to establish probable cause for the aggravating factor. The Post Millennial’s digest quoted the defence’s admission that the shooter was on a nearby rooftop for 35-44 seconds before firing. Neither digest mentioned the prosecution’s DNA evidence or the defence’s claim that searches of Robinson’s devices found no evidence beyond one statement. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 17 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/08/12/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others) — Defense in Charlie Kirk’s killing say shooter hit the ‘intended target,’ did not endanger others - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'inten - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/08/12/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others/article_a1291a74-a67f-569a-90e9-9fc66e7d73f1.html) — Defense in Charlie Kirk’s killing say shooter hit the ‘intended target,’ did not endanger others - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/world-news/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others-12656895) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/world-news/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others-12656895) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/world-news/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others-12656895) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/world-news/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others-12656895) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [City News](https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/08/12/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/world-news/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others-12656895) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/world-news/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others-12656895) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/08/12/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others) — Defense in Charlie Kirk’s killing say shooter hit the ‘intended target,’ did not endanger others - [ElliotLakeToday.com](https://elliotlaketoday.com/world-news/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others-12656895) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassination-death-penalty-tyler-robinson-2e486bce004797c86f0bab4533a96a6f) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [Richmond Register](https://richmondregister.com/ap/national/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others/article_7ce9ed72-013b-50f8-877d-6c7765073044.html) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [WPLG](https://local10.com/news/national/2026/08/12/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others) — Defense in Charlie Kirk's killing say shooter hit the 'intended target,' did not endanger others - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/08/12/defense-in-charlie-kirks-killing-say-shooter-hit-the-intended-target-did-not-endanger-others) — Defense in Charlie Kirk’s killing say shooter hit the ‘intended target,’ did not endanger others - [Salt Lake Tribune](https://sltrib.com/news/2026/08/12/charlie-kirk-shooting-tyler) — Charlie Kirk shooting: Tyler Robinson asks judge to block death penalty, dismiss charges - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/us/accused-charlie-kirk-assassin-tyler-robinson-asks-judge-take-potential-death-penalty-off-table) — Accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson asks judge to take potential death penalty off table - [The Post Millennial](https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-tyler-robinson-defense-admits-states-evidence-shows-charlie-kirk-shooter-fired-shot-from-nearby-rooftop-at-uvu) — BREAKING: Tyler Robinson defense admits state’s evidence shows Charlie Kirk shooter fired shot from nearby rooftop at UVU - [WAGA](https://fox5atlanta.com/news/charlie-kirk-murder-suspect-tyler-robinsons-lawyers-tell-judge-take-potential-death-penalty-off-table) — Charlie Kirk murder: Suspect Tyler Robinson’s lawyers tell judge to take potential death penalty off table - [Fox 10 Phoenix](https://fox10phoenix.com/news/charlie-kirk-murder-suspect-tyler-robinsons-lawyers-tell-judge-take-potential-death-penalty-off-table) — Charlie Kirk murder: Suspect Tyler Robinson’s lawyers tell judge to take potential death penalty off table - [WOFL](https://fox35orlando.com/news/charlie-kirk-murder-suspect-tyler-robinsons-lawyers-tell-judge-take-potential-death-penalty-off-table) — Charlie Kirk murder: Suspect Tyler Robinson’s lawyers tell judge to take potential death penalty off table - [Fox5 DC](https://fox5dc.com/news/charlie-kirk-murder-suspect-tyler-robinsons-lawyers-tell-judge-take-potential-death-penalty-off-table) — Charlie Kirk murder: Suspect Tyler Robinson’s lawyers tell judge to take potential death penalty off table - [LiveNOW from FOX](https://livenowfox.com/news/charlie-kirk-murder-suspect-tyler-robinsons-lawyers-tell-judge-take-potential-death-penalty-off-table) — Charlie Kirk murder: Suspect Tyler Robinson’s lawyers tell judge to take potential death penalty off table ## Questions **What is Tyler Robinson accused of?** Tyler Robinson is accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah Valley University event on 10 September 2025. Prosecutors say DNA evidence links him to the weapon and that he confessed to his roommate. He has not entered a plea. **Why does the defence want the death penalty removed?** Robinson’s lawyers argue he should not face the death penalty because he hit only the intended target and did not endanger other attendees. Under Utah law, this is required for a capital crime. They also dispute that he targeted Kirk over his political views. **What happens next in the case?** Closing arguments are scheduled for 1 September. Judge Tony Graf will then decide whether the case proceeds to trial. If it does, Robinson could still face the death penalty unless the judge rules otherwise. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/tyler-robinson-asks-judge-to-remove-death-penalty-in-charlie-kirk-shooting. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Tyler Robinson asks judge to remove death penalty in Charlie Kirk shooting", https://mediabias.news/politics/tyler-robinson-asks-judge-to-remove-death-penalty-in-charlie-kirk-shooting