Suspect ‘crying with remorse’ after shooting dead Trump ally

“I asked if what he texted the night before was true, Tyler answered yes. He started crying and wished he hadn’t done so,” Lance Twiggs, roommate of suspect Tyler Robinson, told investigators in a video statement shown at the Utah state court, USA, on July 9.

The hearing took place to determine whether there was enough evidence to bring Robinson, 23, to trial on charges surrounding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk while he was speaking at Utah Valley University, Utah on September 10, 2025.

Robinson, who grew up in a Republican family, could face the death penalty if convicted.

Kirk, 31, is the co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA and a key ally of President Donald Trump. The assassination shocked America and sparked much controversy in right-wing political circles.

According to investigators, a few hours after the attack, Robinson texted Twiggs and admitted that he had shot and killed Kirk. In the message, Robinson said he was fed up with the “hateful messages” that Mr. Kirk spread.

Twiggs said Robinson returned to their home in St. George, Utah, the morning after the assassination.

The relationship between Robinson and Twiggs also attracted great attention in the US. Twiggs, who is in the process of transitioning from male to female, is not only roommates but also romantically involved with Robinson.

On social networks, many people speculate that this relationship could be the motive that led to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a Christian nationalist and frequent critic of the LGBT community and transgender people.

In his statement to investigators, Twiggs said Robinson sometimes talked about politics.

“He often talked about what he heard on the radio on the way to work. I never heard him specifically mention Charlie Kirk,” Twiggs recalled.

According to Twiggs, they “barely discussed” the situation of transgender people and the LGBT community in America.

The two met in 2023. They were initially just roommates and began a relationship about 2-3 months after Robinson moved in. To date, Robinson has not shown any signs of pleading guilty or denying the charges.