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By Andrew Stanton
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Utah Valley University has released new files related to the assassination of Charlie Kirk last September.
What Happened to Charlie Kirk?
Kirk, a conservative activist, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, at the UVU campus in Orem, Utah, during a question-and-answer session on campus.
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Days after the shooting, authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, whom officials said had confessed to the crime to his father. He is in custody on charges of aggravated murder, obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Robinson.
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The shooting sparked a national outcry about political violence and followed the assassination of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman earlier in the year and the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump the year prior.
Police have faced scrutiny over how the attack occurred. Critics have questioned how the attack could occur at a ticketed, ostensibly secure event, with multiple witnesses noting that no checkpoints, bag checks, or barcode scans were enforced and that the venue remained largely open to the public.
What Redacted Utah Valley University Documents Reveal
The files were reported by The Daily Caller, a conservative-leaning news outlet that had filed a public records request with the university. The request pertained to UVU Police Chief Jeff Long’s communications about Kirk’s death. The documents were heavily redacted and appear to show communications between university staff about the shooting.
The documents are largely redacted, with identifying information and names being removed from all communications. The Daily Caller reported that all information that could “jeopardize the security of public property, buildings or systems,” or “life or safety of an individual” was not included in the release.
It includes communications from both the days leading up to the shooting, when university officials were planning for Kirk’s appearance, as well as those that followed as the community grappled with his death.
Where is Charlie Kirk Buried?
Burial details for Kirk have not been made public.
Where is Tyler Robinson Now?
Law enforcement has arrested Robinson and charged him in connection with the shooting.
Robinson's legal team has asked to delay a preliminary hearing scheduled in May, so they have more time to review an enormous amount of material, including a recent ballistics report described as “inconclusive.”
An analysis conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) could not definitively determine whether a bullet fragment recovered from the victim was fired from a rifle authorities allege Robinson used in the attack.
Robinson's defense team cited the ATF report and said the FBI was running new tests. The team has also said the DNA of multiple people was found on some of the items at the scene, necessitating more analysis.
Robinson is due back in court on April 17 for a hearing on a motion to ban cameras from the courtroom. Prosecutors have previously said they intend to seek the death penalty for Robinson, who has yet to enter a plea.
Newsweek reached out to a spokesperson for Utah Valley University for comment via email.
Update 4/6/2026 6:07 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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