Timeline
Times are America/Denver unless marked unknown. Every row is sourced. Conflicts stay on the row.
- ~ Sep 10, 2025, 6:30 PM MDTChallenger returns after midnight
~12:30 a.m. 11 Sep. Hull: Robinson's car stopped, tried to turn onto a campus road, contacted an officer on security detail. Officer noted the plate. Texts quoted that night are about retrieving the rifle.
- Sep 10, 2025 (time unknown)Patel "subject in custody" – then released
Hours after the shot, FBI director posted that "the subject" was apprehended. Walked back within about two hours. A separate campus arrestee who claimed he was the shooter was not.
- Sep 10, 2025, 8:40 AM MDTTrump announces Kirk's death
2:40 p.m. MDT, Truth Social. Kirk had been carried to an SUV at 12:23:55 and taken to Timpanogos Regional Hospital.
- ~ Sep 10, 2025, 6:30 AM MDTZinn detained after false confession
Minutes after the shot, George Zinn, 71, yelled he had shot Kirk and was cuffed on camera. Later said the shout was to hinder police. Not the gunman. Viral video burned the first hour.
- ~ Sep 10, 2025, 6:24 AM MDTFigure drops from north corner of Losee
~12:24 p.m. Run to the north corner, hang, drop. Palm prints and smudges at the edge. Converse print on the ground. Then woods north of campus.
- Sep 10, 2025, 6:23 AM MDTThe shot
12:23:30 MDT. Single round to the left neck during Kozak Q&A. Crowd down. Six men carry Kirk to an SUV at 12:23:55. State: shooter runs the roof and drops ~12:24.
- ~ Sep 10, 2025, 6:15 AM MDTFigure crosses onto Losee roof
State / affidavit: railing cross from the public walkway onto the roof ~12:15 p.m. Prone facing the tent by 12:22, about 430 ft from Kirk.
- ~ Sep 10, 2025, 5:50 AM MDTSuspect reappears north of campus
~11:50 a.m. Black shirt with US flag, dark cap, large sunglasses. Phone out at stairs 11:53, then pedestrian tunnel and parking-garage stairwell (FBI stills).
- ~ Sep 10, 2025, 4:30 AM MDTMid-morning food stop and woods walk
Hull: after leaving ~9:25, the figure returned on foot with a blue backpack, bought Chick-fil-A in Sorensen, ate, walked into woods NE of Campus Drive. Came back without the backpack, in long pants and gray long-sleeve, limp, hat, sunglasses.
- Sep 10, 2025, 2:29 AM MDTGray Dodge Challenger on campus
Officials: suspected gunman arrived 8:29 a.m. MDT. Dressed differently than around the shooting. State later IDs this as Robinson; he allegedly interacted with TPUSA staff, then left.
- Dec 10, 2025, 5:00 PM MDTFirst in-person court appearance
11 Dec 2025. Robinson in the Provo courtroom in person after the 16 Sep video appearance.
- Sep 23, 2025, 6:00 PM MDTNester appointed
24 Sep 2025. Salt Lake City attorney Kathryn Nester appointed as lead defense counsel.
- ~ Sep 16, 2025, 4:00 AM MDTPatel Senate Judiciary testimony
16 Sep 2025, same day as charging. Bipartisan criticism of the false 'in custody' post. Patel: 20+ Discord users to be questioned. Claimed credit for the arrest the next day in the House.
- Sep 1, 2026, 4:00 AM MDTBindover arguments set
1 Sep 2026, 10:00 a.m. After defense brief (~11 Aug) and state rebuttal (due 18 Aug). Graf decides probable cause, not guilt.
- ~ Aug 26, 2025, 6:00 PM MDTTPUSA announces UVU stop
American Comeback Tour fall kickoff. A petition asked UVU to cancel. University kept it as a free-speech event.
- ~ Sep 11, 2025, 4:00 PM MDTRobinson surrenders in Washington County
Parents recognized news images. He allegedly implied he was the shooter and talked suicide. Retired deputy friend called Sheriff Brooksby. Taken into custody without incident that evening. Patel confirmed an arrest ~10 p.m. 11 Sep.
- Sep 11, 2025, 4:00 AM MDTFBI releases POI photos and $100k reward
Patel: first photos 10 a.m. local 11 Sep; $100,000 reward 10:45 a.m. Facial recognition on the CCTV had already failed. Four more photos that evening, then the rooftop video ~8 p.m. briefing.
- Mar 26, 2026, 6:00 PM MDTDefense flags ATF inconclusive fragment
27 Mar 2026 motion: ATF "unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson." Media-access filings had already quoted the inconclusive comparison.
- Jul 5, 2026, 6:00 PM MDTFive-day preliminary hearing
6–10 Jul 2026, Provo. State: video, DNA, Twiggs recorded interview. Defense: DNA methods, fragment, CoC. Graf will not rule until after 1 Sep 2026 arguments.
- Sep 15, 2025, 6:00 PM MDTCharges and death penalty announced
First court appearance (video). Seven counts including capital aggravated murder. Motive alleged: political expression.
- ~ Sep 12, 2025, 3:00 AM MDTCox / FBI: rifle recovered, Robinson named
12 Sep morning briefing. Cox: 'We got him.' Only suspect. Casings inscriptions read aloud. Roommate messages described. 33-hour manhunt closed.