A 22-year-old man arrested in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was connected by investigators to online gaming and social-media accounts that friends and court documents say linked him to the victim and to a roommate who has cooperated with police, authorities and news outlets reported.
Police arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, on suspicion of aggravated murder after the shooting at a university event in Utah, and prosecutors have charged him with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm and obstruction of justice, according to court filings. Robinson was turned in to authorities by his father and a minister in southern Utah and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
A court-filed affidavit says a roommate provided police with text messages linking Robinson to the shooting; the affidavit did not name the roommate or accuse that person of a crime, and it described the roommate as cooperating with investigators. Multiple news outlets identified the roommate as Lance Twiggs, 22, who used the online name “lancelotte” or variants of that handle on platforms including Steam and Reddit.
Daily Mail and other outlets reported that posts and account data tied to Twiggs show participation in transgender-related forums and, in at least one Reddit comment, appeared to praise President Joe Biden. Axios, citing six sources familiar with the probe, reported that Robinson was romantically involved with the roommate and that the roommate provided investigators with text messages after the shooting.
Investigators recovered bullets inscribed with messages that included "Hey fascist! CATCH!" and "Notices bulges, OwO what’s this?" — the latter phrase associated with an internet meme often used in furry communities, according to reporting. Authorities have said the inscriptions are among the items being examined as part of the investigation.
Online accounts linked to the username "craftin247" were identified by multiple outlets as associated with Robinson. That handle appears on gaming platforms, a payments app and on FurAffinity, a website for users who create and share anthropomorphic animal artwork and personas. The FurAffinity account was registered in July, two months before the shooting, and some images on the site include sexualized cartoon characters, a common feature of the platform's user-generated content.
Friends interviewed by news outlets described Robinson as an avid gamer; a Steam profile tied to the "craftin247" username showed thousands of hours of play and years of membership. That Steam profile reportedly used "Tyler" as the "real name" field and listed a Utah location, and it previously had used other politically themed usernames, according to reporting.
The affidavit and media reports say investigators are examining whether comments Kirk had made publicly about transgender people prompted Robinson to target him in defense of his romantic partner. Authorities did not publicly confirm a motive and have cautioned that the investigation remains active.
Robinson’s roommate, who has been described in reporting as transgender or in the process of transitioning, told participants in online forums about experiences related to gender transition, and some posts attributed to that account discussed topics such as facial hair suppression and hormone-related changes. Family members reached by media offered limited comment; one relative declined to discuss the person’s gender, and a grandfather said he had not been in contact with the roommate since police questioned him.
Local law enforcement searched the apartment shared by Robinson and the roommate and seized electronic devices and other evidence as part of the probe, according to court documents and reporting. The affidavit says the roommate handed over texts from Robinson that investigators found incriminating, including messages about hiding a gun wrapped in a towel and etching messages on bullets.
President Donald Trump, who has publicly praised Kirk, said he wants the suspect to face the death penalty, according to a statement reported by media outlets. Kirk, a founder of Turning Point USA and a frequent commentator on conservative issues, collapsed after being struck at the speaking event; he later died from his injuries.
Authorities have not identified additional suspects and have asked anyone with information to contact local law enforcement. The investigation continues as prosecutors prepare for initial court proceedings in the case.