Authorities say it was a roommate who turned in crucial evidence that led to the arrest of Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a campus event at Utah Valley University.
The roommate, identified as Lance Twiggs, lived with Robinson in a three-bedroom apartment in St. George, Utah. According to an affidavit, Twiggs provided police with a series of incriminating Discord text messages in which Robinson discussed stashing a rifle connected to Wednesday’s fatal shooting.
Kirk was fatally shot in the neck at his event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday
Text Messages Handed Over
Law enforcement filings reveal that Robinson allegedly sent Twiggs messages about “retrieving a rifle from a drop point,” “leaving the rifle in a bush,” and “changing outfits” after the shooting. Other texts referenced a scope, a unique weapon, and engraved bullets.
Those descriptions matched evidence investigators recovered: a Mauser .30-06 rifle, wrapped in a towel and abandoned in a wooded area near UVU shortly after the attack.
Twiggs was not named in the affidavit itself and faces no accusations of involvement in the murder. Instead, his cooperation with police provided the breakthrough that led to Robinson’s arrest on charges of capital murder, obstruction of justice, and felony firearm violations.
Robinson was arrested late Thursday evening and is currently being held in custody and is likely to have a first court appearance next week
Transgender Motive Rumors
Reports from Fox News and the New York Post suggested Robinson had been living with a “transgender partner” who is also cooperating with investigators. It remains unclear if this individual is the same as Twiggs.
When asked about speculation regarding a possible transgender motive, Twiggs’ grandfather, Jerry Twiggs, declined to comment: “I don’t want to comment on that. I’m not sure what his situation is exactly right now.” He added that while he knew his grandson had spoken with police, the family had not been in contact with him since.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox has stated publicly that Robinson was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,” though investigators have not confirmed an official motive.
Twiggs was part of a large group chat of dozens of gamer friends mostly from Robinson’s alma mater, Pine View High School, hosted on online chat network Discord.
Twiggs was not named in the law enforcement filing and is not accused of being involved in Kirk’s murder
Neighbors and Lifestyle
Neighbors recall the police raid at the Fossil Hills housing complex around 5:30 a.m. Friday, when officers cordoned off the area, removed paper bags and computer equipment, and photographed the property.
Cable Phillips, 20, a neighbor, said police swarmed the two-story apartment shared by Twiggs and Robinson, while residents watched from behind police tape.
Other neighbors described Robinson as reclusive. Josh Kemp, 18, told the New York Times that Robinson rarely interacted with others but often blasted music with his roommate. Oliver Holt, 11, recalled knocking on Robinson’s door last week offering to do odd jobs and said Robinson appeared “strange and nervous,” constantly glancing back inside his apartment.
The Gaming Connection
Lance Twiggs, who lived with Tyler Robinson in a three-bedroom apartment in Saint George, Utah, turned Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin over to police
Robinson allegedly texted about stashing a gun linked to Wednesday’s shooting of the prominent conservative activist at Utah Valley University, a law enforcement affidavit said
Twiggs, like Robinson, was an avid gamer. Social media posts show him sharing clips of himself playing titles like Apex Legends, Valorant, and Rocket League. He also posted lighthearted TikTok videos, including one in which he microwaved a bottle of Mountain Dew.
Friends told the Daily Mail that Robinson and Twiggs were part of a large Discord group chat with dozens of gamer friends, many of them former classmates from Pine View High School. According to the affidavit, Robinson’s incriminating texts were sent via Discord.
Background of the Suspect
Robinson had received a $32,000 scholarship to Utah State University but dropped out after one semester in 2021. He later enrolled at Dixie Technical College (now Utah Tech), pursuing an electrical apprenticeship program.
The affidavit indicates that Robinson allegedly confided in Twiggs after the assassination, sending messages that effectively tied him to the crime. Twiggs then alerted authorities, a move that law enforcement officials credit as pivotal in securing Robinson’s arrest.
Robinson was taken into custody late Thursday evening and remains held without bail, awaiting his first court appearance next week.
The Apartment
A Zillow listing shows the 1,460-square-foot Fossil Hills apartment where Robinson and Twiggs lived. The property description notes that roommates were paying a combined $900 per month for two of the three bedrooms.
Conclusion
While questions remain about Robinson’s motive — and speculation persists about whether a transgender angle was involved — what is clear is that his roommate’s decision to cooperate gave investigators the evidence they needed to build their case.
As the community in Utah reels from the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, attention now turns to the courtroom, where prosecutors will lay out the details of Robinson’s alleged crime, much of it built on the very messages he sent to the person he lived with.
