FBI Questions Romantic Partner and Roommate of Charlie Kirk’s Suspected Assassin – Here’s What We Learned

Text messages between Tyler Robinson and his partner, identified as 22-year-old roommate Lance Twiggs, helped the FBI zero in on the suspected assassin.

Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin lived with a transgender partner, senior FBI officials confirmed to Fox News Digital. Investigators identified the partner as a male transitioning to female. The two were roommates at an apartment in Saint George, Utah, about four hours from Utah Valley University, where Kirk was allegedly shot.

Officials confirmed that Robinson’s partner is working with investigators. One FBI source told Fox News Digital the individual “had no idea” of Robinson’s alleged plan to target the Turning Point USA founder. Authorities also noted that the partner is not facing any criminal allegations.

The FBI obtained text messages and other communications between Tyler Robinson, 22, and the partner. Agents said those exchanges helped them track down Robinson. Evidence collected from the apartment, including computers, has been sent to Quantico for review.

The FBI has not said whether charges could be filed against Robinson’s partner. A spokesperson said the Bureau is pursuing all leads and vowed that “every connection, every group, every link will be investigated.”

The apartment in Saint George sits in the same community where Robinson’s parents live. The second person living with Tyler Robinson has now been identified. Public records show that 22-year-old Lance Twiggs resided at the same Saint George address.

A relative of Twiggs confirmed the arrangement in a statement to The Post on Saturday, saying, “Yes, they were roommates.”

A relative described Lance Twiggs as the “black sheep” of his St. George family, but declined to discuss whether he and Robinson were romantically involved. She said she did not know Twiggs’ political views or whether he was transitioning, though she added that such news would not surprise her.

On Saturday, September 13, The Post reported that the $1,800-per-month townhouse, believed to be shared by Robinson and Twiggs, appeared empty.

A neighbor said that, about two weeks earlier, several people driving cars with out-of-state plates had been seen entering and leaving the property. “They did not give off a good vibe,” the neighbor told reporters.

Court documents reveal that Twiggs handed over text messages Robinson sent before the shooting. According to an affidavit filed by Utah Attorney General’s officer Brian Davis, the exchanges included instructions about retrieving a rifle from a drop point.

Robinson allegedly described leaving the weapon in a bush, watching the area where it was hidden, and wrapping the rifle in a towel. He also wrote about engraving bullets, attaching a scope, and emphasized that the firearm was distinctive.

Investigators said the messages further showed Robinson mentioning a change of clothing, suggesting efforts to avoid detection. Robinson’s grandmother has insisted federal agents must have the wrong person. She said she had never known her grandson to show interest in firearms.

“I don’t think he ever shot a gun, to tell you the truth,” she said. “He doesn’t hunt, he’s never liked anything like that. I know he doesn’t own any guns. There’s just no way he could have been that good of a shot.”

She described Robinson as a quiet young man with no history of trouble or violence. She said she had never heard of him struggling with mental health issues. According to her, Robinson worked in St. George and never mentioned plans to attend Kirk’s event. She suggested the case could involve mistaken identity.

She said she had watched her grandson grow up and could not believe he was capable of such an act, adding that her certainty came not only from being his grandmother but from knowing his character well.

We previously reported that Robinson is being held without bail in Utah County Jail. A state judge ordered the detention on Friday. Court records obtained by CNN show Judge Shawn Rice Howell signed the order against Tyler Robinson. The documents note that Robinson has no prior misdemeanor or felony convictions.

He is being held on several initial charges. These include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice. Formal charges have not yet been filed. Authorities also confirmed the recovery of the alleged weapon.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls said investigators found a high-powered bolt-action rifle in a wooded area where the suspect fled. The rifle will be examined by the FBI Laboratory. Investigators also collected footwear impressions, a palm print, and forearm imprints for analysis.

Earlier today, Utah Governor Spencer Cox revealed new details about the investigation. He said ammunition found near the recovered rifle bore engraved phrases. At a news conference, Cox read the inscriptions aloud. The phrases, he noted, appeared unusual. Experts later suggested they were drawn from internet culture.

Jamie Cohen, a professor at Queens College and an expert in digital culture, said the engravings referenced memes, video games, and online jokes. He explained that memes often connect to other memes, which can obscure their meaning.

“Memes contain multitudes,” Cohen said, adding that the context is often stripped away to make them shareable. He cautioned that the messages could mean very little in isolation.

Investigators are still working to understand the meaning behind the engravings. The phrases range from video game commands to cultural references, creating a complex picture that may or may not signal intent.

One sequence of arrows appeared to mirror a controller input from the game “Helldivers 2,” which players use to call in a bomb strike. Another phrase, “Hey, fascist! Catch!” could be interpreted as a direct statement, though experts note it also echoes a line from the same game, where players engage in satirical combat against fascism.

The inscription “Bella Ciao” refers to an Italian resistance song from World War II, later embraced by anti-fascist movements worldwide. A different engraving, “Notices bulges OwO what’s this?” emerged from furry subculture and is widely recognized as a parody of awkward online flirting.

Authorities have not confirmed whether these messages point to a motive. The FBI and Utah County Sheriff’s Office are continuing to analyze the evidence.

Jamie Cohen, who studies internet culture, said the use of these inscriptions may suggest Robinson was communicating in ways familiar to online communities. “Memes are supposed to be read by meme audiences,” he explained. “They’re meant for in-group communication.”

Cohen added that memes linked to extremist groups or mass violence often serve a dual purpose. They resonate with insiders while also drawing wider attention once shared publicly.

New details about Robinson’s arrest reveal that family members played a crucial role in bringing him into custody. Two federal law enforcement sources told CBS News that Robinson’s father recognized him in photos released by authorities and confronted him.

Robinson admitted to his father that he was the person in the images and confessed to killing Charlie Kirk, the sources said. When his father urged him to surrender, Robinson replied that he would rather end his life than turn himself in. Concerned for his safety, his father contacted a youth pastor close to the family.

According to the sources, the pastor — who also works as a court security officer — joined Robinson’s father in attempting to calm him. The pastor then alerted the U.S. Marshals Service, which arrived at the scene and detained Robinson. The FBI was called shortly after and took Robinson into custody late Thursday night, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Friday.

Questions about potential punishment are already emerging in the case. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown told CNN’s Erin Burnett that prosecutors have not yet decided whether to pursue the death penalty but emphasized that “everything is on the table.” He said the option is under active consideration.

The discussion has drawn national attention. Former President Donald Trump said in an interview Friday morning that he hopes the suspected shooter receives the death penalty. Governor Cox also stated that Utah officials intend to seek capital punishment in the case.

Meanwhile, online activity connected to Robinson’s family has shifted in recent days. A social media account believed to belong to his mother, Amber Jones Robinson, has been deleted. Authorities have not commented on the reason for the account’s removal.