Judge Reacts To Unseen Footage Of Charlie Kirk Assassination

A Utah judge appeared to react sharply in court while watching footage from the moment Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed last September.

State District Judge Tony Graf, who is overseeing the case against Tyler Robinson, made clear before the video was shown that the footage would not be displayed to the courtroom or made available online. Instead, it would be viewed only by the court and the parties involved in the case.

“The Court is not publishing this in the courtroom, nor is it being published, obviously, online,” Graf said. “But the Court will watch it in court and to the parties, if you could protect your screens however you choose to, and then I’ll check to see when we’re ready, and then we’ll have it played.”

As the video played, Graf appeared to flinch at the moment Kirk was struck.

Brandon Tatum, a former Tucson, Arizona, SWAT officer and a friend of Kirk’s, shared video of the judge’s reaction on social media.

“This may have been the most difficult moment of today’s hearing,” Tatum wrote. “The judge visibly flinched as footage of Charlie Kirk being shot was shown in court.”

“You could feel the weight of the room. Praying for Erika and Charlie’s family,” he added.

NewsNation reporter Brian Entin also described the atmosphere inside the courtroom. He wrote that Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, was crying before the hearing began. Donald Trump Jr. was seated in the front row with his wife. Entin also said Robinson was seen laughing with his attorney before the hearing started, and that Erika Kirk left the courtroom during the description of the shooting.

Robert Draper of The New York Times reported that Erika Kirk and her supporters stood and left as law enforcement officials began testifying about the details of the fatal shooting. Draper said the testimony described Kirk being struck by a bullet and slumping over. Erika Kirk later returned after a break.