Tyler Robinson’s boyfriend took the stand in the final hours of a Utah preliminary hearing and described text messages in which Robinson allegedly wrote “I am, I’m sorry” after being asked if he was the person who shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Story Highlights
- Lance Twiggs testified that Robinson confessed by text, writing “I am, I’m sorry” when asked if he was the shooter.
- Texts also directed Twiggs to find a handwritten note under Robinson’s keyboard reading he planned to “take out Kirk.”
- Surveillance video placed Robinson on the Losee building rooftop at Utah Valley University at the exact moment of the shooting.
- Defense attorneys challenged the DNA evidence and argued parts of Twiggs’ recorded interview may be inadmissible due to leading questions.
Boyfriend Takes the Stand With Damning Texts
Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s transgender romantic partner and roommate, testified during the Day 5 preliminary hearing on July 9, 2026. Prosecutors showed the court text messages in which Twiggs asked Robinson directly if he was the shooter. Robinson allegedly replied, “I am, I’m sorry.” Twiggs also said Robinson told him by text to “look under my keyboard,” where Twiggs found a handwritten note saying Robinson planned to “take out Kirk” and intended “to take it.”
A 37-minute recorded interview between Twiggs and a prosecutor was also played in court. In it, Robinson tearfully told Twiggs he “wishes he hadn’t done it” and said he would “talk to his parents or turn himself over.” Robinson’s texts also mentioned he still needed to “grab my rifle” and had hoped to “keep this secret till I died of old age,” which prosecutors say shows clear planning ahead of time.
Surveillance Video Puts Robinson on the Roof
Campus surveillance footage presented as state evidence tracked Robinson’s movements on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University. Video showed him near the amphitheater around 9:25 a.m., returning to his vehicle, then reappearing after 10 a.m. carrying a blue backpack. He was later seen on the roof of the Losee building, crouching near the southwest corner at 12:23 p.m. — just seconds before the gunshot at 12:23:28 p.m.
After the shot, Robinson was seen jumping off the roof while carrying an unidentified object. Later footage showed him walking with a noticeable limp, which could be consistent with jumping from the roof or the recoil of a rifle. That evening, the maroon T-shirt Robinson wore in a holding room video matched the shirt seen in campus footage earlier that day — a detail prosecutors used to tie him to the scene.
Defense Pushes Back on Key Evidence
Defense attorneys did not stay quiet. One attorney challenged Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) DNA analyst Amanda Bakker, arguing the testing method used — length-based comparisons — cannot definitively match Robinson to samples found on the rifle. The defense argued that without sequence-based testing, the FBI cannot rule out other contributors.
🚨 SHOCKING COURTROOM BOMBSHELL:
Tyler Robinson's demeanor SHATTERS live in court as his FORMER LOVER'S testimony is played for the world!
In the ongoing preliminary hearing for the assassination of Charlie Kirk, prosecutors dropped a devastating recorded interview with Lance… pic.twitter.com/dW3K1iCJTP
— Dr. Dawn Michael (@DawnsMission) July 10, 2026
Defense attorney Nicole Deour also argued that Twiggs’ recorded interview contains leading questions that could make parts of it inadmissible at trial. Another defense attorney, Richard Novak, objected to the interview on hearsay grounds and argued its broadcast created unfair prejudice. Separately, police found no shell casings on the Losee rooftop — unusual for a rifle, which typically ejects them automatically — a detail that drew visible attention in the courtroom. Despite these challenges, even the defense acknowledged that prosecutors had met the probable cause standard needed to move the case forward.
Sources:
pjmedia.com, nypost.com, bbc.com, youtube.com, kutv.com
