Suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing ‘said he wishes he hadn’t done it,’ roommate told Utah prosecutors
Roommate Testifies Robinson Expressed Regret Following Kirk Shooting
Suspect in Charlie Kirk s killing – During a multi-day evidentiary hearing in Utah, Lance Twiggs provided prosecutors with crucial details about Tyler Robinson’s emotional state in the immediate aftermath of the fatal shooting. The former roommate relayed that Robinson made a poignant statement to him on the morning following the incident. According to Twiggs’ videotaped interview, which was presented in court on Thursday, Robinson became emotional and expressed remorse.
“He started crying a little bit and said he wishes he hadn’t done it, and then kept going around and just doing stuff, I think to keep himself busy or distracted or something,” Twiggs explained to investigators.
The testimony came as Utah County prosecutors continued building their case against Robinson, who now faces aggravated murder charges alongside six additional counts. State officials have indicated their intention to pursue capital punishment for the 23-year-old defendant. Robinson has yet to formally enter his pleas regarding the charges stemming from the September 2025 shooting.
Key Evidence Presented at Hearing
Prosecutors have been showcasing various pieces of evidence throughout the hearing to demonstrate sufficient grounds for proceeding to trial. This collection includes surveillance recordings, DNA analysis results, and ballistics examinations. Officials confirmed that Robinson voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement on the same day as Twiggs’ account suggested he would.
The roommate’s testimony is considered potentially pivotal to the prosecution’s strategy. Authorities allege that text message exchanges between Twiggs and Robinson constitute an implicit confession from the defendant acknowledging responsibility for Kirk’s death. In return for providing the videotaped statement, prosecutors extended limited immunity to Twiggs.
“Eventually he said that he would talk to his parents or turn himself over,” Twiggs recounted during his interview, which was conducted and recorded in April.
Twiggs’ legal representative informed CNN that his client has maintained consistent cooperation throughout the investigation. The defense team anticipates calling multiple forensic specialists, with one expert already testifying Thursday regarding ballistics findings in the case.
Background and Context
The hearing takes place approximately ten months after Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while addressing an audience of approximately 3,000 attendees at Utah Valley University. The incident quickly gained international attention, with graphic footage circulating widely across social media platforms and politicians from both major parties offering swift condemnation.
Robinson and Twiggs reportedly met around 2023 and began a romantic relationship two or three months following Robinson’s relocation to their shared apartment in St. George, Utah. According to the roommate’s testimony, political discussions between the couple were not particularly frequent. Twiggs noted he never heard Robinson mention Charlie Kirk specifically and observed that Robinson rarely discussed LGBTQ-related topics.
“Usually, if he did talk about politics stuff, it was relating to Trump or current, like, policies being, like, issued or voted on,” the roommate stated.
On September 10, 2025, the day of the shooting, Robinson departed their apartment early in the morning, informing Twiggs he had an extended drive to work. The defendant did not reach out to his roommate directly until late evening. Prosecutors displayed text messages showing communication beginning around 11 p.m., in which Robinson reportedly texted Twiggs to “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.”
Courtroom Disputes Over Evidence Disclosure
Attorneys representing the state, defense, media outlets, and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, engaged in extensive debate regarding whether Twiggs’ interview could be publicly displayed and published. Judge Tony Graf ultimately determined that certain portions of the statement required redaction before public screening, and these segments were edited from the video presented Thursday.
Erika Kirk’s attorney, Jeffrey Neiman, petitioned the court to permit the complete statement to be shown without modifications. “The Kirk family believes strongly that if the evidence is being admitted at this preliminary hearing, it should be made public for the world to see. No redactions,” Neiman declared during Wednesday’s session.
Additionally, prosecutors revealed new surveillance footage on Tuesday that allegedly captures Robinson’s movements across the Utah Valley University campus on the day of Kirk’s fatal shooting. Judge Graf authorized this evidence for courtroom presentation after the defense initially objected, raising concerns about ensuring a fair trial for the defendant.
