Utah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed Sunday that the man arrested in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was in a romantic relationship with his roommate, who is transitioning, and that investigators are probing that relationship as a possible motive in the killing.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was taken into custody Friday after family members turned him in following the shooting at Utah Valley University that killed Kirk, 31. Robinson has been charged on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm and obstruction of justice. Authorities said he is not cooperating and has not confessed.
Cox told CNN’s Dana Bash that Robinson’s roommate, identified by officials as Lance Twiggs, is a male transitioning to female and that Twiggs has been "incredibly cooperative" with investigators and said he had no idea the shooting was planned. The governor said the relationship is among the facts being examined by police and federal agents but that officials are still piecing together forensic evidence and other information.
Authorities have said investigators recovered shell casings with inscriptions that they described as reflecting "transgender and antifascist ideology." Cox on Thursday cited several inscriptions found on casings and an unfired round, including one that read, "Notices bulge OwO, what’s this?" — a phrase that has been used online to taunt transgender people and members of the furry community. Other markings reported by officials included the phrase "Hey Fascists! Catch" accompanied by arrow symbols, an inscription of the words from the anti-fascist song "Bella Ciao," and a final unfired casing engraved with "If you read this you are gay LMAO." Cox said investigators also are reviewing a handwritten note believed to have been left by Robinson.
Officials said messages linked to Robinson were posted on the social platform Discord after the shooting and that one of those messages described steps taken to hide a rifle allegedly used in the attack. Jud Hoffman, vice president of the Discord platform, told reporters earlier that communications existed between the suspect’s roommate and a friend in which the roommate recounted contents of a note the suspect had left elsewhere. Cox said such communications are being processed for accuracy and may be included in charging documents.
Kirk, a conservative commentator and founder of the organization Turning Point USA, had frequently criticized LGBTQ issues, and some reports said he was discussing transgender-related violence shortly before he was shot. Cox cautioned against drawing conclusions until the evidence is fully reviewed, saying investigators have shell casings and other forensic material that they are trying to reconcile with witness statements and digital records.
Robinson is scheduled to appear in a Utah court on Tuesday. If convicted and if prosecutors seek and obtain the death penalty, state law allows capital punishment by methods that can include a firing squad. President Donald Trump said he wants to see the killer receive the death penalty, calling Kirk "the finest person," a comment widely reported by national media.
Kirk’s funeral has been announced for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Arizona. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, continue to work with local authorities on the investigation, which officials say remains active and subject to further review as forensic results and witness interviews are completed.