Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect accused of assassinating conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, was living with a transgender roommate who is now cooperating with the FBI’s investigation. Public records identify the roommate as Lance Twiggs, also 22, with whom Robinson shared an apartment in St. George, Utah. A family member confirmed their cohabitation but declined to clarify the nature of their relationship, only remarking that Twiggs was considered the “black sheep” of the family.
When investigators arrived at the apartment following Robinson’s arrest, they found it vacant. Neighbors described an eerie shift in the weeks leading up to the shooting. One resident recalled seeing unfamiliar cars with out-of-state plates parked outside the complex, creating what she described as “an unsettling atmosphere.” According to law enforcement sources, Twiggs has since provided agents with digital communications that directly linked Robinson to the crime, including chats where he allegedly planned his movements on the day of the assassination.
Kirk was killed while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. The attack occurred in front of a crowd of nearly 3,000, moments after Kirk had addressed a student’s question about transgender mass shooters. From approximately 200 yards away, a bullet struck him in the neck. Witnesses reported chaos and panic as security rushed to evacuate the hall.
The weapon used in the attack, a high-powered Mauser rifle, was discovered later that evening in a wooded area. Investigators say it was wrapped in a towel in what appeared to be an effort to conceal it temporarily. Bullet casings collected from the scene bore scrawled messages including “Hey fascist!” and “Catch!”—phrases that investigators say matched language used in online messages attributed to Robinson.
Digital evidence is playing a critical role in the case. According to sources familiar with the investigation, Robinson exchanged Discord messages with his roommate about retrieving the rifle from a “drop point,” switching outfits after the shooting, and scouting the terrain where the weapon was hidden. Forensic analysts are now piecing together a timeline from these communications, pairing them with surveillance footage that captured Robinson in the area.
Governor Spencer Cox addressed the case publicly, telling The Wall Street Journal that Robinson was raised in a conservative Mormon household but had become increasingly immersed in far-left ideologies over the past several years. Cox described the ideological shift as a factor investigators are considering while examining Robinson’s motives. “We are learning that political extremism, regardless of which direction it leans, has devastating consequences,” Cox said.
The shooting has ignited fierce debate over the role of rhetoric in political violence. Supporters of Kirk argue that he was targeted not only for his high-profile conservative advocacy but also for his outspoken criticism of progressive activism. The fact that Kirk was killed directly after discussing transgender shooters has only intensified scrutiny. At the same time, critics of inflammatory political speech warn that heightened language from all sides creates an environment where extreme acts are more likely to occur.
Robinson has been formally charged with aggravated murder, a capital offense in Utah that makes him eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will seek that punishment, but the seriousness of the charges underscores the weight of the case. Investigators continue to analyze forensic evidence, including fingerprints, digital records, and the ballistics report, all of which are expected to feature heavily in the prosecution.
For neighbors in St. George, the revelations remain shocking. What seemed like an ordinary apartment complex has become the focus of a national investigation. The combination of Robinson’s ideological radicalization, the eerie behavior noted by neighbors, and the cooperation of his roommate paints a chilling picture of how warning signs may have gone unnoticed.
As the case develops, one fact is clear: the assassination of Charlie Kirk has become not only a criminal investigation but also a flashpoint in America’s ongoing struggle with extremism, political violence, and the words that fuel it.
