Prosecutors are urging a judge to deny accused Charlie Kirk ass@ssin Tyler Robinson’s bid to disqualify a prosecutor, arguing there is no conflict of interest.

In a sweeping 33-page filing, submitted under seal earlier this month and now released in redacted form, the state argues the deputy prosecutor at the center of Robinson’s motion has no personal conflict despite the fact that his 18-year-old child was in the crowd when Kirk was ass@ssinated at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.

Prosecutors say the teen, a student at UVU, was one of “thousands of other witnesses” and had no personal knowledge of the actual muгder, never saw the sh00ting, and never saw a weapon

The filing includes text messages exchanged between the prosecutor and his teenager in the minutes after the sh00ting, which prosecutors argue underscore that lack of firsthand knowledge.

 

Charlie Kirk surrounded by a large audience, tosses hats to the crowd shortly before his assassination in Utah

Charlie Kirk appears at Utah Valley University Sept. 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his “American Comeback Tour” when he was sh0t in the neck and k!lled.  (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

In the messages, the teen initially texts, “SOMEONE GOT SH0T,” and reassures family members, “I’m okay, everyone is going inside.” Only later, after hearing information from others, does the teenager text, “CHARLIE GOT SH0T,” followed by messages relaying what “people were saying” about where Kirk was hit and where the sh00ter may have been positioned.

Prosecutors argue the texts reflect confusion and secondhand information — not emotional trauma or direct involvement that could improperly influence prosecutorial decision-making.

The filing further details that the teen was roughly 85 feet away, had no line of sight to the sh00ter due to buildings blocking the view, and fled the area after hearing what sounded like a loud “pop.”

 

Charlie Kirk shot, crowd disperses

The crowd reacts after Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, is sh0t at Utah Valley University Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)

In a sworn affidavit, the teen described being scared in the moment but suffered no lasting trauma, required no counseling and quickly returned to normal school and work activities.

Robinson’s motion also points to the prosecution’s decision to seek the d3ath penalty on the same day charges were filed, arguing it reflects bias or a rush to judgment.

Prosecutors reject that claim, saying the decision was based on the strength of the evidence, Utah law and a desire to curb speculation and misinformation in a case that immediately drew national and international attention.

 

Charlie Kirk speaks to the audience just before he was shot

Charlie Kirk speaks before he is ass@ssinated during Turning Point’s visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally sh0t while answering a question during the outdoor forum attended by roughly 3,000 people. Robinson is charged with aggravated muгder and faces the possibility of the d3ath penalty if convicted.

Defense attorneys argue that while the trauma of the sh00ting is undeniable, it makes prosecutorial neutrality even more essential — not less. They contend the presence of a prosecutor’s family member at the event creates an unacceptable risk that decisions could be influenced by emotion rather than evidence.

A judge is scheduled to hear arguments on the motion Friday, Jan. 16. If the court grants Robinson’s request, the entire Utah County Attorney’s Office could be removed from the case, forcing the appointment of a special prosecutor and potentially delaying trial proceedings — including the state’s pursuit of the d3ath penalty.