Roommate of accused Charlie Kirk shooter says Tyler Robinson admitted to slaying

(CN) — Tyler Robinson, in the hours before turning himself in for the shooting death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, supposedly spoke in person with his roommate and lover one last time.

Lance Twiggs told authorities in a recorded interview that Robinson left their St. George, Utah, home early Sept. 10, 2025, the day the Turning Point USA co-founder was assassinated at an outdoor rally at Utah State University. Robinson worked as an electrician, though on this day he left earlier than usual.

“He just said he had a long drive to work that day,” Twiggs said in the interview, played Thursday before Fourth District Judge Tony Graf Jr.

Prosecutors claim that Robinson drove to the university in Orem, Utah, and fatally shot Kirk during an outdoor rally. Bullet casings found at the scene had engravings — messages authorities link to a tool kept in Robinson and Twiggs’ house.

Charged with murder, the 23-year-old Robinson faces the death penalty if convicted — though in Utah, all 12 jurors need to agree on capital punishment.

Graf is conducting a preliminary hearing this week to determine if enough probable cause exists to advance Robinson’s case toward trial. Kirk’s widow, Erika, has attended the hearing every day this week.

On Thursday, Graf watched the video interview of Twiggs, who said that after Robinson left their home, he next heard from him around 11 p.m. on the day of Kirk’s death.

“’Drop what you’re doing,’” Robinson texted Twiggs. “’Look under your keyboard.’”

Authorities have characterized a note Twiggs found under the keyboard as an admission by Robinson that he killed Kirk.

“I’d had enough of his hatred,” Robinson texted, according to Twiggs, adding later: “I’m sorry for roping you into all this.”

The pair texted back and forth, Twiggs said. Robinson talked about waiting to retrieve a rifle he’d hidden, saying a police car was near the weapon. Twiggs questioned why Robinson would leave the weapon behind and whether it had a serial number. Robinson said he had to leave it where he changed clothes, adding he left the rifle in a towel. He thought it had a four-digit serial number on it.

Authorities have said they obtained Robinson and Twiggs’ DNA from the towel.

Near the end of their conversation, Robinson said he’d return to St. George — a drive that would take over three hours.

Twiggs said he saw Robinson on Sept. 11, the day after the shooting. Robinson was awake, walking around the house.

“He didn’t go into detail,” Twiggs said, adding that he questioned whether Robinson’s admission the prior night was true. Robinson said it was.

“He started crying a little bit and said he wishes he hadn’t of done it,” Twiggs said.

“And then eventually he said he would talk to his parents or turn himself over,” he added.

An officer has testified that Robinson turned himself in on Sept. 11, 2025. They booked him into jail the following day.

Another officer testified that they found a Dremel, a tool that can be used to engrave bullet casings, along with the same kind of ammunition found at the shooting scene in Robinson’s home. Twiggs said Robinson had asked him about the tool before, adding his roommate said he’d wanted to place messages on bullets.

“I didn’t really think about it then,” Twiggs said.

At the scene, officers found engraved casings with messages like “Hey, fascist” and “If you read this, you are gay, LMAO.”

Authorities gave Twiggs federal and state immunity for his statements in the interview, though not for any information they might discover outside of it. In the interview, Twiggs said he knew Robinson online but didn’t meet him in person until 2023. Robinson moved in with him and they began dating a few months later.

They played party games, but also “Sea of Thieves” — a computer, piracy-themed game. Twiggs said Robinson would talk about political topics at times, though not consistently. Robinson mainly focused on President Donald Trump or current policy discussions.

“I personally have never heard him talk about Charle Kirk specifically,” Twiggs said.