Utah County prosecutors on Tuesday released text messages between suspected assassin Tyler Robinson and his transgender-identifying roommate, offering new insight into the hours leading up to the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah.
At a press conference, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray detailed Robinson’s radical political shift and confirmed the suspect is now facing seven charges, including aggravated murder—a charge that makes him eligible for the death penalty.
Gray said Robinson’s mother told investigators her son had grown increasingly political over the past year, embracing leftist positions and adopting pro-gay and pro-transgender views. Prosecutors also revealed Robinson had been romantically involved with his male roommate, who identifies as a woman and is in the process of transitioning.
According to the charging documents, Robinson sent a text message to his roommate last Wednesday saying, “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.” The roommate checked and found a handwritten note that read, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
Shocked, the roommate immediately texted back, “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????” Prosecutors say Robinson then continued the conversation in a series of messages, outlining his intent to assassinate Kirk and describing how he planned to retrieve the rifle used in the attack after leaving it at a drop point.
The texts, which contain explicit language, were included in the court’s charging documents and confirm Robinson’s premeditation. Officials say the evidence underscores the seriousness of the case and the potential for pursuing the death penalty.
You can read the full exchange here:
Robinson: I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.
Roommate: you weren’t the one who did it right????
Robinson: I am, I’m sorry
Roommate: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: no, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres one vehicle lingering.
Roommate: Why?
Robinson: Why did I do it?
Roommate: Yeah
Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out. If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.…
Roommate: How long have you been planning this?
Robinson: a bit over a week I believe. I can get close to it but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t wanna chance it…
Robinson: I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle. … I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle … idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits.didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with. … I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the fuck will I explain losing it to my old man. …only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel. …remember how I was engraving bullets? The f***in messages are mostly a big meme, if I see “notices bulge uwu” on fox new I might have a stroke alright im gonna have to leave it, that really f***ing sucks. … judging from today I’d say grandpas gun does just fine idk. I think that was a $2k scope ;-;…
Robinson: delete this exchange
Robinson: my dad wants photos of the rifle … he says grandpa wants to knowwho has what, the feds released a photo of the rifle, and it is very unique. Hes calling me rn, not answering.…
Robinson: since trump got into office [my dad] has been pretty diehard maga.…
Robinson: Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff.
Robinson: you are all I worry about love
Roommate: I’m much more worried about you
Robinson: don’t talk to the media please. don’t take any interviews or make any comments. … if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent