Charlie Kirk Suspect Returned to Utah Campus Hours After Shooting, Police Say

Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, returned to Utah Valley University hours after the shooting and encountered a police officer near where the murder weapon was later recovered, according to law enforcement.

Kirk was fatally shot in the neck at 12:23 p.m. during a speaking event in Orem, prompting a campus lockdown and a rapid law enforcement response.

Police secured the Utah Valley University campus and launched a manhunt for Robinson. Local officers, assisted by state and federal agencies, set up perimeters and deployed K-9 units to track his movements. Campus security coordinated with law enforcement to evacuate students and staff, while aerial and ground searches scoured surrounding neighborhoods.

Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason told Fox News that Robinson, 22, circled back that evening and spoke with an officer stationed near the woods where investigators later recovered a Mauser .30-06 rifle wrapped in a towel.

Documents released in the case show Robinson texted his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, about retrieving the weapon.

“I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down,” Robinson allegedly wrote.

In other messages, Robinson expressed regret for not picking it up sooner.

“I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle,” he allegedly texted Twiggs, adding that he feared his father’s reaction if he failed to return the family rifle.

Investigators also found a note beneath Robinson’s keyboard that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.”

Authorities say Twiggs cooperated with them, handing over the note and messages.

Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder, reckless discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice for hiding the rifle and discarding clothing, two counts of witness tampering, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child.

He is also accused of trying to cover his tracks by instructing Twiggs to delete incriminating messages and stay silent.

Authorities tracked Robinson’s movements after the shooting, noting stops at businesses and restaurants. Surveillance footage and witness accounts helped reconstruct his path through Orem.

After more than 33 hours on the run, Robinson surrendered in his hometown in southern Utah when his parents and a family friend persuaded him not to take his own life.

In one exchange, Twiggs asked, “You weren’t the one who did it right????”

Robinson allegedly replied, “I am, I’m sorry,” and said police had initially detained the wrong individuals.

“They grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing,” he reportedly wrote.

Authorities say digital evidence, forensic analysis, and witness accounts form a strong case linking Robinson to Kirk’s murder. The investigation remains active.

The boyfriend of Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer has left the Utah condominium he once shared with the accused gunman, and neighbors say he has not returned.

Lance Twiggs, 22, was taken in for questioning after police searched the three-bedroom St. George property he shared with Robinson, 22, who is charged in Kirk’s death.

Residents said Twiggs, a part-time plumber, has not been seen at the condo since. His car remains parked outside, with work equipment left inside. Mail and packages have accumulated at the doorstep, and lights in the upstairs rooms have reportedly been on for more than a week.

The home is owned by Twiggs’s family, who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Daily Mail reported.

“If he ever comes back, it will be in a body bag,” said one neighbor. “That’s not a threat – I’m just saying that there are so many people who want a piece of him he’d be mad to show his face in public again. This was a generational event.”