Alleged Charlie Kirk shooter Tyler Robinson regrets the killing, ex-lover says

PROVO, Utah — The ex-girlfriend of accused assassin Charlie Kirk told Utah prosecutors that the suspected killer “wished he hadn’t done this,” according to a video played in court Thursday.

Lance Twiggs told investigators in a video interview: “I asked her personally if what she said the other night was true and she said it was, started to cry a little bit and said she wished she hadn’t done that.”

The night before, Robinson allegedly took credit for Kirk’s shooting in a conversation with Twiggs, according to text messages later shown by prosecutors.

TYLER ROBINSON PRELIMINARY HEARING: JUDGE GIVES CORRECTION OF EX-GIRL’S VIDEO STATEMENT

The video was played on the fourth day of Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing; this was a procedural step to determine whether the case could go to trial.

Prosecutors tried to move the game Wednesday, but the defense asked the judge to make corrections.

A video interview with Lance Twiggs, reported to be Tyler Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner, is shown during the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is charged with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah. (via Spenser Stacks/AP)

After some back and forth about what could and could not be included, it was shown in court Thursday morning, and Robinson appeared to be watching it closely.

IT WAS CLAIMED THAT TYLER ROBINSON AND LANCE TWIGGS’ DNA WAS FOUND IN IMPORTANT EVIDENCE IN THE CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION

Charlie Kirk was a conservative activist who ran Turning Point USA. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

Twiggs, who cooperated with investigators and was not charged with a crime, was also Robinson’s girlfriend and roommate, according to prosecutors. She said she introduced herself as “Luna” to some of her co-workers, including Robinson.

Tyler Robinson, accused of murdering Charlie Kirk, appeared for a hearing in the Fourth District Court in Provo, Utah, on December 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/Salt Lake Tribune via Pool)

Twiggs was briefly placed under FBI protection and has since left the state.

Following the shooting, Twiggs allegedly received a text message from Robinson telling him to look under his keyboard. There, he found a note that he said he had photographed, according to prosecutors.

CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: TIMELINE OF UTAH CAMPUS HITTING, TYLER ROBINSON SENTENCED

A video interview with Lance Twiggs was played in court on July 9, 2026. (Fox News)

Prosecutors showed this in court, but the judge said the photo could not be taken. It was a full page handwritten.

“I had the opportunity to take on Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it,” it read at one point.

After seeing the note, Twiggs allegedly asked Robinson if he was joking.

CHARLIE KIRK’S FAMILY CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE ASSASSIN FOR THE FIRST TIME

Photo reservation for 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a suspect in the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in Utah. (Utah Governor Spencer Cox)

Robinson allegedly replied, “I’m still fine, love, but I’m stuck in there for a while yet.” “It won’t be long before I get home, but I still need to get my rifle. Honestly, I was hoping to keep this secret until I die of old age. I’m sorry I got you involved in this.”

“You weren’t the one who did this, were you????” Twiggs replied.

Lance Twiggs, reportedly the roommate and romantic partner of Tyler Robinson, is seen during the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is charged with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah. (via Spenser Stacks/AP)

Robinson allegedly wrote, “I am.” “I am sad.”

Twiggs also claimed in the video that Robinson began carving bullets about a month before the shooting.

Tyler Robinson (left), accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, sits next to defense attorney Kathryn Nester during a hearing Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Fourth District Court in Provo. (Bethany Baker/Salt Lake Tribune via Pool)

“I don’t remember exactly when, but he said he was planning to go hunting with his family,” Twiggs told prosecutor Ryan McBride in the recorded interview. “And he asked me if we had a Dremel tool because he said he wanted to create messages on the bullets.”

Prosecutors said there were many messages on the cartridges and spent casings found in the suspected murder weapon. Another safe containing a similar engraving was seized from the home shared by Robinson and Twiggs, according to Thursday’s testimony.

Robinson appeared uncomfortable in the courtroom, fidgeting in his chair as the Dremel tool allegedly used to scrape the bullets appeared several times.

Twiggs said he told Robinson where to find the tool and warned him not to accidentally fire a bullet during the engraving, but he didn’t think twice about it until after Kirk was killed.

CHARLIE KIRK’S WIDOW PARENTS TO ATTEND TYLER ROBINSON’S PRELIMINARY HEARING NEXT WEEK

Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck and killed while speaking on his “American Comeback Tour.” (Trent Nelson/Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

It was revealed that the mention of the vehicle also affected Robinson’s family, who was sitting in the first row of the courtroom.

As the Dremel discussion continued, Robinson’s brother had his head bowed, his mother rubbing his back, and his father’s arm around him.

Later in the hearing, when the court saw a text message conversation between Robinson and Twiggs, Erika Kirk was heard crying as messages were read in Twiggs’ court asking Robinson questions about the gun; The gun was seized by police in a wooded area just outside the campus when they were sent.

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH VALLEY RECORDS CONtroversial GRADUATE SPEAKER WHO CRITICISM CHARLIE KIRK AFTER HIS MURDER

People run after shots were fired during Charlie Kirk’s performance at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck and killed while speaking on his “American Comeback Tour.” (Trent Nelson/Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

According to Twiggs’ video interview, Robinson allegedly told him he had a “long drive to work” the morning of the shooting.

“I don’t know an exact time,” he said. “I know he left early. I heard he left and he said he had a long drive to work that day. That’s why he was leaving early.”

This was September 10, the day Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Robinson allegedly remained in the area until midnight on September 11.

A screenshot of text messages viewed during Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing shows messages that prosecutors allege discussed Robinson’s motive and efforts to recover the rifle after the Sept. 10, 2025, shooting of Charlie Kirk. (Credit: Brooke Curto/Fox News)

Members of Kirk’s family jeered from the third row of the gallery when Twiggs said he woke up around 1 p.m. the day of the shooting.

Robinson reached up and scratched his throat as Twiggs described the last time he saw Tyler before he went to surrender.

In another portion of the video interview, Twiggs told investigators that Robinson resembled the man on the FBI wanted poster linked to the shooting, which designates a person of interest on campus.

“They look like Tyler Robinson,” Twiggs said.

But he underestimated the identity.

“I can’t say for 100% certainty just because of the camera quality, but it looks like him in terms of the shoes he’s wearing and the sunglasses he’s wearing,” Twiggs said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him wearing this hat in particular, but he usually wore a hat and jeans.”

The photo, which prosecutors say shows a text message exchange between Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk, and Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner, was shown during a preliminary hearing at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, on Thursday, July 9, 2026. (via Spenser Stacks/AP)

Twiggs did not testify in person at the preliminary hearing but may be asked to testify if the case goes to trial.

Near the end of Thursday’s hearing, Judge Tony Graf Jr. indicated he would not make a decision at the end of this week’s preliminary hearing. Instead, he granted a defense request to allow both sides to brief before hearing oral arguments at a hearing scheduled for Sept. 1.

Only then would he decide where there was sufficient probable cause to send Robinson’s case to trial.

The 23-year-old accused assassin has not yet entered a plea and will not do so unless the judge agrees with prosecutors that the charges are warranted.

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The September trial will take place almost a year after a sniper’s bullet killed Kirk during the US Turning Point event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

If convicted, Robinson could face the death penalty.