Utah County prosecutors on Tuesday disclosed text messages they say show the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk expressed concern about leaving a bolt-action rifle at the scene and called the weapon “grandpa’s rifle.” Authorities identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson and said the communications helped lead investigators to him.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said at a news conference that Robinson sent messages to a roommate, identified by authorities as Lance Twiggs, beginning within hours of the Sept. 10 shooting at Utah Valley University. Gray said one message at about 2:55 p.m. on Sept. 10 — roughly two hours after the shooting — read, “I’m worried what my old man would do if I don’t bring back grandpa’s rifle.” Gray said Robinson also wrote that he worried about the rifle’s serial number and fingerprints, and that he had hidden it in a bush after changing clothes.
Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice, Gray said. He is not cooperating with investigators, the county attorney added. The bolt-action rifle recovered near the scene has been identified by authorities as the weapon allegedly used in the shooting, and prosecutors said Robinson discussed attempting to return to the scene to retrieve it so it would not be linked to him.
“Kirk was fatally shot from about 200 yards,” Gray said, describing the single shot that struck Kirk in the neck as he attended an event on his American Comeback Tour. Kirk, 31, was the founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA and a prominent figure in the MAGA movement. He is survived by his wife and two young children.
Gray said communications between Robinson and his roommate, whom officials said is transgender, played a role in identifying and locating the suspect. Prosecutors released excerpts of messages they said showed Robinson describing the killing without remorse, including a comment quoted by Gray: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Robinson’s alleged concern about leaving the rifle at the scene was set against his messages about evidence and attempts to avoid detection. “If i’m able to grab my rifle unseen I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they will have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it,” Gray read from the communications.
The shooting has prompted significant national attention and political reaction. Former President Donald Trump and other high-profile conservatives called for the death penalty for the alleged shooter, and officials said Kirk’s body was flown to Arizona aboard Air Force Two accompanied by Vice President J.D. Vance. Trump has said he plans to attend Kirk’s funeral, scheduled for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Arizona.
Law enforcement officials said the investigation into the shooting remains active. Gray emphasized that the allegations in the disclosed messages are part of the prosecutorial case and that defenses asserted by the accused will be addressed through the court process. Robinson appeared in court after his arrest and remains in custody as prosecutors prepare their case.
Forensic teams recovered the rifle near the university, and investigators are processing the weapon for physical evidence, Gray said. Authorities have not released details from any forensic testing or any forensic timeline tying the weapon to the shooting beyond the charge filing. Court records show Robinson faces multiple felonies; the state will need to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The disclosures Tuesday added to the timeline of events investigators have reconstructed since the shooting. Kirk’s death has reverberated through conservative political circles and has drawn public statements from elected officials and party leaders, who have both condemned the killing and called for swift accountability. The prosecution said it will present the evidence it has gathered as the case moves forward in the Utah courts.
Authorities urged anyone with additional information to come forward to assist the ongoing investigation. Court proceedings and any further public filings will determine how the evidence, including the cited text messages and the recovered rifle, are used at trial.