Additional Coverage:
During a recent court hearing, a recording was played revealing that Tyler Robinson, the defendant accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk, expressed to his roommate regret over the incident the day after the shooting. Lance Twiggs, who is both Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner, recounted this conversation, which took place in their apartment in southern Utah-far from the scene at Utah Valley University where Kirk was shot in the neck while addressing a crowd.
On the same day as this discussion, just an hour before surrendering to authorities, Robinson reportedly admitted in a Discord chat, “it was me at UVU yesterday,” according to prosecutors.
Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder and has yet to enter a plea. The fatal shooting occurred as Kirk, a prominent Trump ally credited with mobilizing young Republican voters for the 2024 election, spoke to thousands.
Notably, the ammunition used in the attack bore provocative engravings including “Hey Fascist! Catch!”
and “If you Read This, You Are GAY,” which prosecutors highlighted during the hearing.
In court, Robinson displayed a furrowed brow and a smirk when messages regarding the bullet engravings were shown. His family was visibly emotional, with his mother wiping away tears as the messages were read aloud.
Defense lawyers attempted to prevent the public release of Twiggs’ statements and the chat logs, arguing that prosecutors would present the material as a confession and compromise Robinson’s right to a fair trial. However, state District Judge Tony Graf permitted a redacted version of the interview to be played, with some sensitive sections obscured.
The defense also challenged the prosecution’s evidence, casting doubt on the reliability of ballistics tests linking a bullet fragment from Kirk’s body to the suspect weapon. An expert from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives testified that the results were inconclusive. Earlier, the defense questioned the DNA evidence tying Robinson to the crime scene, although forensic experts maintained the science was sound.
Prosecutors revealed a chilling note Robinson allegedly wrote to Twiggs: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” The note also expressed Robinson’s expectation of either death or a long prison sentence. Additional texts suggested Robinson targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.”
Under questioning, a state investigator recounted messages where Robinson worried about leaving fingerprints on a rifle believed to be the murder weapon-a bolt-action firearm found wrapped in a towel near the shooting site. Twiggs, who was granted immunity for his statements, told authorities that Robinson occasionally discussed politics, including Trump, but never mentioned Kirk or topics related to gender or LGBTQ issues before the shooting.
The prosecution argues that the shooting endangered others at the university event, a factor that could elevate the charge to a capital offense under Utah law. They also seek sentence enhancements, claiming the attack was politically motivated.
Charlie Kirk’s family, including his widow Erika Kirk and parents, attended the hearing along with Utah Senator Mike Lee. Their attorneys advocated for full public access to Twiggs’ statements and other evidence, emphasizing the family’s prolonged wait to observe the proceedings meaningfully. Judge Graf acknowledged these concerns but maintained the need to balance transparency with protecting the rights of all parties involved.
Robinson’s preliminary hearing will conclude this week, after which Judge Graf will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Meanwhile, Robinson’s legal team continues to argue against the imposition of the death penalty.
The investigation details that Robinson allegedly shot Kirk from a rooftop overlooking the event as Kirk answered questions from the crowd. The activist was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. The rifle used in the shooting was recovered nearby, missing one round.