ST. GEORGE, Utah — Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, reportedly lived with a transgender roommate and displayed ties to left-leaning activist movements, according to law enforcement and sources close to the case.
Robinson allegedly killed Kirk, 31, on Sept. 10 during Kirk’s “American Comeback” speaking tour, firing a single shot from the rooftop of the Losee Center Building roughly 200 yards from where the Turning Point USA founder was addressing an audience. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the shooting a targeted “political assassination.”
Law enforcement sources told The New York Post that Robinson shared a townhouse with Lance Twiggs, a biological male identifying as female who was in the process of transitioning. Twiggs is cooperating with the FBI investigation, authorities said. A family member confirmed that the two were roommates but declined to comment on the nature of their relationship.
Robinson’s former co-workers described him as quiet but fascinated by firearms. One electrician who worked alongside him said Robinson had boasted about making long-range shots of up to 450 yards. Surveillance footage from the event shows Robinson with his fists clenched throughout, a former colleague said.
Investigators also reported evidence linking Robinson to left-wing activist circles, including online messages referencing anti-fascist slogans and phrases tied to ANTIFA. Bullet casings recovered from the scene reportedly bore inscriptions such as “Hey fascist! Catch!” and the Italian anti-fascist anthem, “Bella Ciao,” and “Notices bulges, OwO what’s this?”
Daily Mail reported that Robinson was linked to a “furry” website, using the handle “craftin247” on FurAffinity.net, a forum that features humanoid animal illustrations, often in sexualized poses. The account was registered in July 2025, just two months before the shooting. Friends told the outlet Robinson had used the same username across various video game and social media accounts.
Cox said Robinson had been “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology” and had expressed disdain for Kirk’s conservative viewpoints. Robinson’s family, by contrast, has Republican affiliations. A neighbor described his parents as “quiet and kind,” noting they had previously supported Robinson through a minister after he reportedly expressed suicidal thoughts.
The man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk joked about his “doppelganger” pulling the trigger during a private Discord chat just hours after the killing, according to messages obtained by The New York Times.
Robinson mocked the nationwide manhunt and taunted federal investigators while bantering with his friends online. In one exchange, he even joked about collecting the reward money before later surrendering to authorities.
Robinson, who has since been arrested and identified as the prime suspect in Kirk’s killing, showed no sign of remorse in the conversations, screenshots shared by a former classmate indicate.
Instead, he appeared to revel in the attention. “Tyler killed Charlie!!!!” one user wrote in the chat, tagging him after the shooting. Robinson quickly replied: “My doppelganger’s trying to get me in trouble.”
The comments came just hours after the FBI released surveillance images of a man in sunglasses and a cap walking through a stairwell at Utah Valley University, where Kirk had been speaking. While investigators had not yet named a suspect, Robinson privately hinted at his involvement, trading meme-laced jokes as authorities scrambled to identify the shooter.
Authorities continue to investigate Robinson’s motives and any additional connections to activist networks as the FBI leads the federal inquiry.
