- đź“Ś Tyler Robinson's roommate, Lance Twiggs, testified in court that Robinson said he 'wished he hadn't done it' after killing Charlie Kirk.
- đź“ś Prosecutors presented evidence including engraved ammunition reading 'Hey Facist! Catch!' and Discord messages where Robinson allegedly confessed.
- 🔍 Ballistics tests on a bullet fragment were inconclusive, and defense challenged DNA evidence reliability.
- ⚖️ Robinson faces aggravated murder charges and possible death penalty; preliminary hearing continues with oral arguments set for Sept. 1.
Introduction
In a Utah courtroom on Thursday, a recording revealed that Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, told his roommate he 'wished he hadn't done it' the day after the killing. The hearing is part of a preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to bring Robinson to trial for aggravated murder.
Key Evidence Presented in Court
Roommate's Testimony
Lance Twiggs, Robinson's roommate and romantic partner, said in a police interview that Robinson confessed to the murder during an exchange at their apartment in southern Utah, more than 200 miles from where Kirk was shot. Twiggs was granted immunity for his statements. Twiggs, who has also gone by the name “Luna”, spoke to authorities on 12 September 2025, two days after Kirk was killed, and again on 20 April of this year. The second conversation was heard in court on Thursday.
Twiggs told authorities that on 11 September 2025, the day after Kirk was fatally shot, Twiggs encountered Robinson pacing around their apartment in St George and behaving as if he were trying to distract himself. Twiggs said he asked Robinson if what he “said the night before” regarding Kirk’s killing was true, and Robinson said it was. The video testimony has been a source of contention, with an extensive back-and-forth on Wednesday over whether publicly broadcasting the testimony could expose potential jurors to prejudicial information. The defense attorney Richard Novak has said he feared prosecutors would attempt to portray Twiggs’s statements as a confession by Robinson, who has not entered a plea, and hurt the defendant’s right to a fair trial. Meanwhile, Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, has called for the court to allow the open courtroom display of every exhibit relating to her husband’s killing, saying she fears the proliferation of conspiracy theories. She has been in attendance at the legal proceedings this week, accompanied by Kirk’s parents. Judge Tony Graf allowed the partially redacted interview and messages, citing a need to protect the rights of both the victims and Robinson.
The state on Thursday also showed screenshots from Twiggs’s phone of text messages exchanged with Robinson. “Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you,” Robinson wrote, according to one photo. “You werent the one who did it right????” Twiggs replied. “I am, I’m sorry,” Robinson wrote. Twiggs also told a prosecutor he never heard Robinson talk about Kirk. “Usually if he did talk about politics stuff it was relating to Trump or current policies being issued or voted on,” he said.
In the recorded interview played in court, Twiggs detailed Robinson's demeanor the morning after the shooting. Twiggs said he asked Robinson in person if what he said the night before was true, and Robinson said it was, started crying, and said he wished he hadn't done it. Twiggs also testified that he had never heard Robinson talk about Kirk and that Robinson would only occasionally discuss politics. In text messages, Robinson told Twiggs he had been planning the attack for roughly a week. When Twiggs asked why he would kill Kirk, Robinson replied, “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out.”
According to Twiggs, Robinson had asked for an engraving tool in the months before the shooting, saying he wanted to inscribe bullets for a camping and hunting trip with his family. Twiggs also said that Robinson sometimes discussed politics and listened to political radio shows while traveling to and from his jobs as an electrician, but that Twiggs did not share the same interests and didn't “really contribute much” to such conversations. Most of Robinson's comments centered on President Donald Trump or new legislation, and they never discussed Kirk or LGBT issues, Twiggs said.
On the day of the shooting, Robinson left earlier than usual, around 04:00, but Twiggs thought he was going to a job that was farther away, according to the recording. After Kirk was killed, the alleged shooter texted telling Twiggs to “drop what you're doing” and “look under your keyboard.” In the note left by Robinson, he addressed Twiggs as “Luna” and said: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it. I wish we could have lived in a world where this was not necessary.” The note added: “Please try and find joy in this life. I love you always, Tyler.”
As Robinson texted further, Twiggs asked: “You weren't the one who did it, right?” “I am,” Robinson wrote. “I'm sorry.” When Twiggs asked why, Robinson responded that he'd “had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out.” Robinson continued texting Twiggs that night, still near the campus where Kirk was shot, telling his roommate that he'd left his rifle in bushes where he'd changed his clothes and was waiting to retrieve it. “If I'm able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence,” Robinson said in the text messages. He complained about crickets being too loud and that a sniffer dog may have located the firearm. A heavy police presence and squad car remained near the spot. “I'm just sitting in my car watching reels for another hour,” Robinson texted Twiggs. He also texted that he was leaving Orem, where Kirk was shot, more than 200 miles from their apartment in St George, telling Twiggs he was on his way home.
Discord Confession and Engraved Ammunition
About an hour before turning himself in, Robinson posted in a Discord chat room: 'it was me at UVU yesterday.' Prosecutors also showed ammunition found in the gun used to kill Kirk, engraved with phrases including 'Hey Facist! Catch!' and 'If you Read This, You Are GAY.' Robinson appeared to furrow his brow and smirk when the messages were displayed. Additional engraved casings included one reading 'O Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Bella ciao, Ciao, ciao!' in reference to an Italian anti-fascist song. Robinson's family sat behind him, and his mom cried as the Discord messages were read aloud. She rubbed the shoulder of one of Robinson's brothers, who listened with his head bowed.
For the first time, the prosecution also revealed images on Thursday of the alleged murder weapon - a bolt-action rifle - as well as engraved bullets and cartridges found both at the crime scene and at Robinson's residence. Inscriptions at the scene included messages such as "If you read this, you are gay" and "Fascist! Catch!" - while a cartridge engraved with "Test Shot" was found at the home that the suspect shared with Twiggs.
Defense Challenges
Defense attorney Michael Burt questioned the reliability of ballistics tests on a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk's body. ATF expert Samantha Karner said the results were inconclusive, adding, “Saying anything but inconclusive was inappropriate.” The defense also questioned DNA evidence linking Robinson to the scene. Jennifer Faumuina, a sergeant with the Utah department of public safety, testified that an ATF report concluded it was highly likely DNA on several parts of the rifle belonged to Robinson. The defense has argued DNA testing has not always yielded reliable results. Faumuina also testified that three unfired bullets and a casing were found with the gun, engraved with the previously reported messages.
Handwritten Note and Additional Texts
Prosecutors allege Robinson confessed in a handwritten note to Twiggs that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.” The note, shown in full for the first time Thursday, continued, “I wish we could have lived in a world where this did not feel necessary.” Robinson also allegedly sent a text to Twiggs saying he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.” State Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Davis recounted the messages exchanged between Twiggs and Robinson under questioning by a prosecutor Thursday. Included were texts from Robinson worrying about leaving fingerprints on a rifle that belonged to his grandfather.
Weapon and DNA Evidence
Throughout the hearing, prosecutors have also presented details about the weapon they say was used to kill Kirk. Jennifer Faumuina, a sergeant with the Utah department of public safety, testified earlier in the week that law enforcement officials recovered a Mauser 98 rifle from a wooded area on the campus of Utah Valley University. Faumuina returned to the stand on Thursday and read from a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) report that concluded it was highly likely that DNA on several parts of the rifle belonged to Robinson. The defense has argued DNA testing has not always yielded reliable results. Three unfired bullets and a casing were also found with the gun, according to Faumuina. They were engraved with previously reported messages, including “if you read this, you are gay”, “hey fascist, catch” and “oh bella ciao, ciao, ciao”.
In previous days, the court has also seen evidence including video footage allegedly depicting Robinson entering the campus and climbing on to a roof, and heard from law enforcement officers and university staff describing what they saw and heard.
Local Utah Context
The shooting occurred at Utah Valley University in Provo, Utah, where Kirk was speaking to a crowd of thousands. The case has drawn attention from state officials, including Senator Mike Lee, who attended the hearing. The prosecution argues the shooting endangered others, making it eligible for the death penalty under Utah law.
Background
Charlie Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was known for galvanizing young conservative voters. He was shot in the neck while speaking at a campus event on September 10, 2025. Robinson turned himself in a day later and has not entered a plea.
Conclusion
Judge Tony Graf will hear oral arguments on September 1 before deciding whether to proceed to trial. The case continues to unfold with significant implications for free speech and political violence. The hearing is scheduled to end today, but Judge Graf granted a defense request to file a briefing before he decides whether Robinson will stand trial. Prosecutors can file a brief too. Kirk family attorney Jeffrey Neiman said they want swift justice, stating, “I think we obviously know the court needs to make sure they're balancing all interests here, but I think as soon as the matter could be bound over and this matter could be set for trial, that's what the Kirk family would like.”