Pretrial hearings in the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk began earlier this week in Utah, and some startling new details have emerged in the case.
In addition to key motions from both the prosecution and the defense, the testimony from witnesses has also included some surprises.
That includes statements made to the court by Lance Twiggs, the former trans lover of murder suspect Tyler Robinson.
During Thursday’s preliminary hearing, prosecutors played portions of a recorded interview with Twiggs.
The interview, conducted in April 2026 under a grant of use immunity, focused on events following the Sept. 10, 2025, fatal shooting of Kirk at Utah Valley University.
According to the recording, Twiggs described Robinson’s return to their shared apartment in St. George, Utah, the morning after the shooting, recounting statements Robinson allegedly made about the incident as well as his behavior and actions in the hours that followed.
Twiggs testified that Robinson left their shared apartment unusually early on the morning of Sept. 10, departing around 4 or 5 a.m. after saying he had a long drive to an electrician job.
According to Twiggs, the two did not communicate again until late that night, when Robinson sent him a text message instructing him to look underneath his keyboard.
A note there read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
More text messages from Robinson that evening referenced targeting Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred” and added that “some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
In one exchange, Twiggs asked, “You weren’t the one who did it, right????” Robinson replied, “I am, I’m sorry.”
According to prosecutors, messages attributed to Robinson indicated that he hoped the incident would remain secret for years, expressed regret for involving Twiggs, referenced retrieving a rifle from bushes near the scene, and mentioned changing his clothes after the shooting.
Twiggs testified that Robinson returned to their apartment the following morning.
He said he confronted Robinson about the messages and asked whether the statements he had made the previous night were true.
“I just asked him in person if what he said was true the night before, and he said it was,” Twiggs said.
“He started crying a little bit and said he wishes he hadn’t done it,” the ex-lover added.
Before leaving the apartment, Robinson indicated he would either speak to his parents or turn himself in.
JUST IN: In a recording, Tyler Robinson's trans lover, Lance Twiggs, says Robinson was acting "erratically" after allegedly killing Charlie Kirk.
In the bombshell video, Twiggs said Robinson told him that he "wishes he hadn't done it."
"I just asked him in person if what he… pic.twitter.com/jyMcjzCRPx
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 9, 2026
Twiggs testified that Robinson appeared agitated during the encounter, pacing around the apartment and behaving erratically. According to prosecutors, Twiggs’ account included statements that Robinson admitted to the killing, said he had hidden the firearm used in the shooting, disposed of his clothing, and instructed Twiggs not to speak with law enforcement.
Twiggs also testified that Robinson had been planning the attack for “a bit over a week.”
Elsewhere in the recorded interview, Twiggs said Robinson had borrowed a Dremel tool several weeks before the shooting to engrave bullets, telling him the work was in preparation for a hunting trip.
Twiggs testified that he had never previously heard Robinson mention Charlie Kirk and that the two rarely discussed politics, although Robinson followed political news more closely and regularly listened to political radio programs.
Twiggs also identified surveillance images from the Utah Valley University campus as appearing to depict Robinson based on the clothing and other characteristics shown, while acknowledging some uncertainty about portions of his identification.
Before the hearing, the court ordered portions of Twiggs’ recorded interview to be redacted after defense attorneys argued that certain statements could unfairly prejudice prospective jurors by presenting them as a confession.
Judge Tony Graf permitted prosecutors to play a redacted version of the interview during the preliminary hearing.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
