Charlie Kirk's Alleged Killer Causes Outrage As He Laughs, Smirks During First In-Person Court Appearance

Tyler Robinson finally appeared in person in court for the first time after his arrest for the alleged shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

The 22-year-old, whose attorneys have pushed to ban cameras in the courtroom, arguing media coverage could jeopardize a fair trial, was recorded laughing and smirking, sparking fury online.

Tyler Robinson faces aggravated murder and related charges for the September 10 shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, and could be given the death penalty if found guilty.

During his first in-person court appearance on Thursday, lawyers for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, urged the judge to block cameras from future proceedings, a stance sharply opposed by Kirk's widow, Erika, who has demanded full public access.

Robinson, 22, entered the Provo courtroom wearing a blue button-down and patterned tie as his legal team argued that recording the hearings could influence potential jurors.

Judge Tony Graf initially permitted limited filming, but more than two hours of the session took place behind closed doors.

Although Robinson's parents and brother attended the court hearing, they were removed from the private portion, despite the defense's request that they be allowed to stay.

Robinson appeared composed while seated between his attorneys, even sharing quiet jokes with them before proceedings began.

At some point, the alleged killer was seen laughing gently and smirking as he interacted with his legal team, prompting outrage online after clips from the courtroom went viral on X.

One angry netizen noted, "Tyler Robinson's smiling in court makes me so angry I can't stand it."

Once the hearing reopened, defense lawyer Staci Visser accused the media of violating the court's broadcast rules by allegedly showing Robinson's shackles and picking up audio from the defense table before the hearing officially started.

She argued that these slip-ups jeopardized Robinson's right to a fair trial and requested that cameras be removed for the rest of the day.

"It's our understanding that the shackles are visible and some audio from the counsel table was heard," Visser said. "There has been some filming of computers and materials at counsel's desk … That's entirely inappropriate."

The lawyer added that she continued receiving notes that the restraints were visible, even as the camera at that point was trained solely on the judge.

According to the New York Post, Jeff Hunt, representing several media organizations, acknowledged that there had been unintentional errors and apologized, asking the judge not to bar the press entirely.

Judge Graf briefly recessed, ordered the cameras moved to the opposite side of the room away from Robinson, and allowed coverage to continue.

Robinson is charged with fatally shooting the 31-year-old Turning Point USA co-founder on September 10 at Utah Valley University, where Charlie was addressing a crowd of thousands.

Charlie died after being struck in the neck, an incident captured from multiple angles on audience cell phones and shared widely online.

Robinson faces aggravated murder and several related charges, including firearms violations, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and committing a violent act in front of a child.

Although he won approval to wear civilian clothing in court, Judge Graf has required him to remain in restraints for safety reasons and instructed the media not to show them.

The Utah County Sheriff's Office supports the defense's push to ban cameras, but Erika has insisted the public should see the man accused of killing her husband.

Robinson was arrested 33 hours after the shooting when his father identified him to authorities after seeing images released online.

Investigators say Robinson admitted to the killing in text messages to his transgender live-in partner and described where he hid the bolt-action rifle used in the attack.

He has yet to enter a plea and could face execution by firing squad if convicted.

Meanwhile, Charlie's newly released book, "Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life," hit shelves earlier this week.

During an interview on "Hannity" Monday night, TPUSA CEO Erika reflected on the project and the message her husband hoped would resonate with readers of any faith tradition.

"He did not just write this book," she told host Sean Hannity, per Fox News. "He lived it."

Winning Team Publishing described the late activist as "fiercely proud" of the manuscript, which he completed only a month before the September 10 shooting at Utah Valley University.

The book urges people to reclaim the Sabbath as a time of rest, stillness, and intentional connection.

Erika explained that her husband believed unplugging from nonstop work and screens allowed families to reconnect in ways that truly mattered.

"In this book, Charlie talks about how important it is – to put your phone down, engage with your family. Pour into them. That's your legacy," she said.

She added that observing the Sabbath had a profound effect on their home life and made him a "next-level husband."