Who Is Lance Twiggs? Confession, Immunity, and Testimony

Lance Twiggs is the 22-year-old former roommate and romantic partner of Tyler Robinson, the man charged with assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Robinson left Twiggs a handwritten confession under a computer keyboard and texted him admissions on the day of the shooting, making Twiggs a central figure in the FBI investigation and a likely witness in Robinson’s capital murder case. Twiggs has not been charged with any crime.

Background and Relationship With Tyler Robinson

Twiggs grew up in St. George, Utah, the son of a hot tub salesman in what relatives described as a strict Mormon household. He attended Dixie Success Academy, an accelerated program in which high school students take college-level courses, and family members described him as a gifted straight-A student and concert pianist. He later studied at Utah Tech University and identified himself online as a digital creator.¹²

Relatives said Twiggs was kicked out of his parents’ home during his junior year of high school after rejecting Mormonism, with family also citing behavioral problems and alleged drug and alcohol use. He lived with friends and grandparents before eventually moving into a three-bedroom townhouse in the Fossil Hills apartment complex in St. George, a property owned by his family. Robinson became his live-in partner. Twiggs was in the process of transitioning from male to female at the time of the shooting.¹²

Robinson’s mother told investigators her son had become “more obsessed with gay and trans political issues” after moving in with Twiggs, and that Robinson had drifted politically to the left over the previous year.³ A relative of Twiggs told Fox News that he “hates conservatives and Christians”; other family members attributed his alienation to his upbringing rather than ideology.¹

The Confession Robinson Left Him

On the day of the shooting, Robinson texted Twiggs and told him to look under a computer keyboard in their apartment. Twiggs found a handwritten letter in which Robinson wrote, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.” The letter also expressed regret that Robinson could not “stay for you and live our lives together.”⁴

Robinson followed up with text messages admitting to the shooting, admitting to hiding the gun and discarding the clothes he had worn, and asking Twiggs not to report the information to police.⁵ In one message, Robinson said he had been planning the attack for “a bit over a week” and that he “had enough of this hatred.”⁶ Robinson also told Twiggs the engravings on the shell casings recovered near the scene were “mostly a big meme.”⁷

According to unsealed search warrants, investigators first learned of the letter’s existence and contents from Twiggs’ description before physically recovering it from the residence.⁸

Cooperation With the FBI and Limited Immunity

Twiggs was brought in for questioning after the shooting, and authorities described him as “very cooperative” with the FBI.⁹ A relative offered a different account, telling reporters that Twiggs “didn’t voluntarily go in” and “didn’t give up any information until he had to.”¹⁰

On April 20, 2026, Twiggs gave a recorded, sworn statement to investigators detailing Robinson’s admissions. To secure it, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Utah County Attorney’s Office granted him “limited-use immunity,” meaning his own statements could not be used against him in any prosecution. He was warned that any false statements could bring obstruction of justice charges.¹¹ Prosecutors planned to introduce that video statement, along with electronic communications between Robinson and Twiggs, as evidence at Robinson’s preliminary hearing.¹²

Twiggs has not been charged. Authorities have said there is no indication he had prior knowledge of the assassination.¹³

FBI Protection and Move to Texas

Because of the volume of threats directed at Twiggs and his family after the shooting, authorities placed him under FBI protection with a four-man security detail.¹⁴ During those initial weeks, he and his family “moved around a little bit” for safety.¹⁵

By January 2026, the FBI protection had ended. Twiggs retained an attorney, left Utah, and moved to a quiet suburban neighborhood in Texas, where he was living with family members. Sources told the New York Post he spent most of his time at home gaming and reading fantasy novels.¹³

Role in Robinson’s Preliminary Hearing

Robinson’s preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 6–10, 2026. In the lead-up, prosecutors said they intended to rely on Twiggs’ recorded April 2026 video statement rather than call him as a live witness.¹⁶ Robinson’s defense team moved to subpoena Twiggs for in-person testimony so they could cross-examine him, arguing his statements were being used to establish probable cause for a capital offense.¹⁷

On June 22, 2026, Fourth District Judge Tony Graf denied the motion, ruling that cross-examination was not required at the preliminary hearing stage. He left open the possibility that the defense could renew the request if the prosecution’s presentation “materially differs” from what it had promised or if the defense could identify specific testimony from Twiggs likely to negate probable cause.¹⁶ If the case goes to trial, Twiggs could be called as a witness and cross-examined at that stage.⁵

Where the Case Against Robinson Stands

Robinson faces seven counts in Utah’s Fourth Judicial District Court, including aggravated murder as a capital felony, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and a class A misdemeanor for a violent offense committed in the presence of a child. Several counts carry a victim-targeting enhancement based on the defendant’s alleged perception of Kirk’s political expression.¹⁸ Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.¹⁹

The FBI has continued to investigate whether anyone else was involved, including Robinson’s participation in at least two Discord group chats.²⁰ As of mid-2026, no additional individuals had been charged, and Twiggs remained an uncharged cooperating witness.

1
New York Post. Alleged Charlie Kirk Shooter Tyler Robinson’s Trans Lover Lance Twiggs Was Gifted Straight-A Student
2
Newsweek. Lance Twiggs Tyler Robinson Partner Social Media
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ABC News. Tyler Robinson Set to Face Formal Charges in Shooting Death
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Deseret News. Tyler Robinson Unsealed Search Warrant Documents Charlie Kirk Killing Admission Lance Twiggs
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New York Post. Alleged Charlie Kirk Killer Loses Bid to Confront Trans Lover in Court
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KSL TV. Tyler Robinson Charlie Kirk
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Politico. How Charlie Kirk’s Killer Poisoned Everyone With Meme Slop
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St. George News. Unsealed Warrants Reveal Unknown Individual, Early Investigative Scramble in Kirk Shooting
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CBS Austin. Alleged Charlie Kirk Assassin Lived With a Transgender Partner, Cooperated With FBI Probe
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NewsNation. Family of Accused Charlie Kirk Shooter’s Roommate Speaks
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NewsNation. Partner of Accused Charlie Kirk Shooter Received Limited Immunity
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Fox News. Tyler Robinson’s Roommate, Lover Received Limited Immunity From Prosecutors
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New York Post. Trans Lover of Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Spotted After Going Into Hiding, Moving Out of State
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Fox News. Tyler Robinson Lover Lance Twiggs No Longer Protected by FBI
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New York Post. Location of Charlie Kirk Suspect’s Boyfriend Lance Twiggs Revealed
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Deseret News. Tyler Robinson Preliminary Hearing Conflicts Alleged Charlie Kirk Killer Lance Twiggs
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ABC4. Tyler Robinson Roommate Partner May Testify
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Utah County Attorney’s Office. Tyler James Robinson Criminal Information
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CNN. Tyler Robinson Charlie Kirk Cameras Hearing
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The Hill. Discord Shooter Investigation FBI