Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, was living with a transgender partner who is cooperating with federal investigators, a law enforcement source told the New York Post Saturday.
Federal and state authorities said during a Friday press conference that a roommate who is cooperating with the probe provided communications to investigators that helped link a contact named "Tyler" to the scene of the Sept. 10, 2025, shooting. Authorities said messages and other exchanges described bullet casings similar to those recovered at the event and discussed "the need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point."
Robinson was arrested after the shooting and faces an aggravated murder charge, officials said. Authorities have said he acted alone. Police and prosecutors have cited messages recovered during the investigation as part of the evidence that led to his identification and arrest.
The relationship between Robinson and the individual described as a transgender partner was first reported by Fox News correspondent Brooke Singman and was confirmed to The Post by a law enforcement source, according to the Post report. The partner, who has not been publicly identified by authorities, is said to have been in the process of transitioning from male to female and is now fully cooperating with the FBI.
Officials at the press conference described a cooperating "roommate" who provided communications from a contact named "Tyler" that referenced details investigators say matched the shooting. The cooperating individual gave messages and other material to federal authorities, law enforcement officials said.
Charlie Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot once in the neck shortly after an audience member asked him a question about transgender people and mass shootings during a campus appearance on his "American Comeback" college tour. The attendee asked, "Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?" Kirk responded "Too many," according to video of the event. He was taken to a hospital, underwent surgery and was pronounced dead a few hours later.
Officials have provided limited public detail about the identity of the cooperating roommate and did not say whether the partner lived in the same unit where Robinson was arrested. Investigators have been tight-lipped about the full scope of the materials the cooperating person provided, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Authorities have said Robinson was tracked down with the help of family members and later turned in; law enforcement officials previously said a father who is a police officer confronted Robinson and later alerted authorities. Investigators have also said that Robinson threatened to kill himself rather than surrender, according to officials familiar with the case.
The FBI and local prosecutors have repeatedly emphasized that their investigation is active. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder and are pursuing the case in state court, officials said.
The June-to-September timeline of the alleged planning and the messages cited by investigators have not been disclosed in full, and authorities have refrained from characterizing the shooting as driven by any single motive as they collect evidence. Officials said at the press conference that they would release additional information as the investigation and prosecution proceed.
The allegations about Robinson's living arrangements and the role of his partner in cooperating with federal investigators add to details authorities have disclosed in the days since the shooting. Officials have said they are examining social media, communications and other materials as part of a broad investigation that included local, state and federal agencies.
The case has prompted discussion about security at campus events and the responsibilities of hosts and law enforcement at political speaking engagements. University and local officials have said they will review security procedures and coordinate with prosecutors as the case moves forward.
As investigators continue to review evidence, they have urged anyone with information relevant to the shooting to contact the FBI and local law enforcement. Authorities said they will provide further updates in the coming days as more details become available.