Charlie Kirk murder suspect told roommate “he wishes he hadn’t done it,” police interview reveals
Charlie Kirk Murder Suspect Told Roommate He Regrets Shooting
Charlie Kirk murder suspect told roommate - The Charlie Kirk murder suspect told his roommate he wished he hadn't committed the fatal act, according to a police interview revealed during a preliminary hearing. Tyler Robinson, who faces aggravated murder charges for the September 2025 shooting at Utah Valley University, shared his regret with former roommate Lance Twiggs shortly after the incident.
Emotional Reaction Captured in Interview
During the recorded conversation, Robinson appeared visibly agitated when speaking with Twiggs on September 12, the day following the shooting. The suspect paced repeatedly through their shared apartment, clearly restless and distracted. When Twiggs asked about something Robinson had said the previous evening, the suspect confirmed his words and began to cry.
"He started crying a little bit and said he wishes he hadn't done it," Twiggs recounted during his recorded interview with a Utah prosecutor.
After this emotional moment, Robinson resumed pacing and engaged in various activities to keep his mind occupied. He later informed Twiggs that he planned to surrender to authorities, prompting the roommate to leave the apartment before any further developments occurred.
Previous Messages and Target Selection
Before the shooting, Robinson had left a written note for Twiggs, who was also his former romantic partner. In this message, Robinson wrote that he "had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it." Additionally, Robinson sent a text message explaining that he had targeted the conservative activist because he "had enough of his hatred."
Twiggs noted in his testimony that he had never previously heard Robinson discuss Charlie Kirk. Their political conversations typically centered on President Trump and contemporary news events rather than the activist specifically.
Legal Proceedings and Evidence
Twiggs was granted immunity for his statements, ensuring that his testimony cannot be used against him in any potential criminal proceedings. Despite this protection, Robinson's defense attorneys opposed the public release of Twiggs' interview, arguing that prosecutors would frame the comments as a confession and thereby prejudice Robinson's right to a fair trial if the media broadcast the content.
Attorneys representing both media organizations and Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, urged the presiding judge to make the statements and supporting evidence available to the public. Kirk family attorney Jeffrey Neiman emphasized the importance of transparency during the proceedings.
"To not be transparent, to not be open and let the world see what happened will create doubt and distrust in the judicial system," Neiman told Judge Tony Graf on Wednesday.
Investigation Details and Next Steps
Investigators determined that Robinson climbed to a rooftop near the location where Kirk was speaking and fired a single shot through the neck as the activist addressed questions from a crowd numbering in the thousands. Kirk was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities subsequently recovered a bolt-action rifle containing one spent cartridge, wrapped in a towel, in a wooded area close to the shooting site.
Robinson's legal team has not publicly addressed whether their client is guilty or innocent but has attempted to eliminate the possibility of the death penalty, though these efforts have met with limited success thus far. During the hearing, Robinson remained largely silent, dressed in a jacket and tie with one arm secured to his waist, occasionally taking notes with his free hand.
Defense counsel recently challenged the reliability of DNA testing methods used to connect Robinson to both the towel and the firearm. An FBI DNA analyst was questioned about her techniques for linking the evidence to the suspect, with defense attorney Michael Burt casting doubt on her conclusions.
State District Judge Tony Graf will determine at the conclusion of this week's preliminary hearing whether prosecutors possess sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial against Robinson. The hearing has provided an opportunity for the Kirk family, who waited ten months for this proceeding, to observe the process, though Neiman noted that at times they were denied the chance "to meaningfully observe" the proceedings.
Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, attended the hearing alongside Robinson's parents and two of his brothers, who occupied the front row of the courtroom gallery. Charlie Kirk's parents and Erika Kirk sat several rows behind the