The man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk told his roommate, "he wishes he hadn't done it," according to a recorded interview played in a Utah court on Thursday. The statement was made the day after Kirk was shot in the neck while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University.
Lance Twiggs, who identified himself as Robinson’s romantic partner, provided the description of Robinson’s remarks during a recorded interview with a prosecutor on April 20. Defense attorneys had sought to prevent the public release of Twiggs' statements, arguing that prosecutors might frame them as a confession, potentially jeopardizing the defendant’s right to a fair trial.
Tyler Robinson faces a charge of aggravated murder and has not yet entered a plea. He surrendered to authorities one day after Kirk, a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump known for mobilizing young Republican voters, was killed. Prosecutors allege Robinson confessed in a note left for Twiggs, stating, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it." Additional text messages reportedly sent by Robinson to Twiggs indicated that Kirk was targeted because Robinson "had enough of his hatred."
Twiggs initially spoke with authorities on September 12, two days after Kirk’s assassination during a speech to thousands at Utah Valley University. He provided a second statement on April 20. Twiggs was granted immunity for his statements, meaning they cannot be used against him in any potential criminal proceedings.
State District Judge Tony Graf is presiding over a preliminary hearing this week to determine if prosecutors have sufficient evidence to proceed to trial against Robinson. Robinson's attorneys have not commented on his guilt or innocence but have unsuccessfully sought to have the death penalty removed as a possible sentence.
Attorneys representing media organizations and Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, urged the judge to make Twiggs' statements and other evidence public. "To not be transparent, to not be open and let the world see what happened will create doubt and distrust in the judicial system," Kirk's family lawyer, Jeffrey Neiman, told Judge Graf on Wednesday. Neiman had also requested that all evidence against Robinson be displayed openly and in real time during the hearing, stating that Kirk's parents and widow had waited 10 months for the proceedings and had at times been denied the opportunity to "meaningfully observe" them. The judge indicated that not all evidence would be publicly displayed, citing the need to protect the rights of both the victim and the defendant.
Investigators assert that Robinson positioned himself on a rooftop near the venue where Kirk was speaking and fired a single shot, striking Kirk in the neck as he was taking questions from the audience. Kirk was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital. The suspected murder weapon, a bolt-action rifle with one spent casing, was discovered wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the shooting site.
Robinson has remained largely silent throughout the hearing. On Thursday, he was observed wearing a jacket and tie, with one arm shackled to his waist, and appeared to be taking notes. His parents and two brothers were present in the front row of the courtroom gallery, while Kirk's parents and Erika Kirk sat a few rows behind them. Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, was also in attendance.
Earlier in the week, Robinson’s defense team questioned the reliability of the DNA testing used to link the defendant to the weapon and the towel. Defense lawyer Michael Burt specifically challenged the conclusions of a DNA analyst from the FBI, arguing, "She can’t match Mr. Robinson to the questioned samples." However, forensics expert Lawrence Quarino, a professor at Cedar Crest College, affirmed that law enforcement agencies employ "extremely reliable" tests to ascertain the probability of a match between DNA samples and individuals, describing DNA testing as "the gold standard in forensic science."