It was a Tuesday that changed everything for the American political landscape. On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, the firebrand founder of Turning Point USA, was killed during an event at Utah Valley University. The world watched a 33-hour manhunt unfold. But when the dust settled and 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was in handcuffs, the headlines took a sharp, personal turn. Suddenly, everyone was talking about the Kirk shooter trans partner, a young person named Lance Twiggs.
People wanted to know: who was this person? Did they know? Were they part of it?
The reality is a lot more complicated than the viral tweets and angry talk-show segments suggest. Honestly, it's a story about a relationship caught in the middle of a national tragedy.
Who is the Kirk shooter trans partner?
Lance Twiggs isn't some shadowy political operative. He’s a 22-year-old from St. George, Utah. Before his world got flipped upside down, Twiggs was basically an aspiring professional gamer. He spent a lot of time on Discord and TikTok, posting clips of games like Apex Legends and Valorant.
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He and Tyler Robinson shared a townhome in St. George. They were in a romantic relationship, which the FBI eventually confirmed after digging through their digital lives. Twiggs is transgender—a male transitioning to female—and according to relatives, he’d been struggling with his identity for a while, leading to some serious friction with his conservative Christian family.
Family members have called him the "black sheep." They’ve talked about his battles with drug and alcohol abuse and a gaming addiction that sorta took over his life.
The discovery of the "Note Under the Keyboard"
When Robinson pulled the trigger in Orem, Utah, he didn't just disappear into the night. He sent a text to Twiggs. It was a weird, cryptic message telling him to "look under my keyboard."
Under that keyboard, Twiggs found a handwritten note. It wasn't a love letter. It was a confession before the fact. The note reportedly said, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I'm going to take it."
Imagine finding that.
Twiggs didn't immediately run to the cops. There was a frantic exchange of texts after the shooting happened. Twiggs asked, "You weren't the one who did it right????" Robinson’s reply was blunt: "I am, I'm sorry."
Was there a political motive?
Everyone is looking for a "why." The FBI found bullet casings at the scene with anti-fascist engravings. They also found messages where Robinson expressed a deep-seated hatred for Kirk’s views, specifically regarding LGBTQ+ rights and transgender issues.
One text from Robinson to Twiggs really stands out: "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out."
It seems Robinson had turned "hard left" over the previous year. His mother told investigators he became intensely focused on gay and transgender rights. Whether he did it for Twiggs or just because he was radicalized by the general political climate is still something the lawyers are arguing about.
Is Lance Twiggs in trouble?
Short answer: No.
At least, not legally. The FBI has been very clear that Twiggs is a witness, not a suspect. They’ve described him as "extremely cooperative." He handed over his phone, his computer, and those incriminating Discord chats.
For a while, the government actually had Twiggs under FBI protection. He and his family were getting death threats from people who blamed them for what Robinson did. But as of early 2026, that protection has ended. Federal sources say the "threat assessment" changed, and since they already have the evidence they need from him, the Bureau moved on.
Twiggs has since moved out of Utah. He’s got a lawyer now, and he’s trying to stay out of the spotlight.
The misinformation and the "Safe Space" rumors
When news first broke about a Kirk shooter trans partner, the internet went wild. There were rumors that Twiggs had "vanished" or was being hidden in a government safe house. Neighbors in St. George saw mail piling up at their $1,800-a-month townhome and assumed the worst.
In reality, he was just being questioned and protected.
Some people tried to claim Twiggs was the mastermind. There’s zero evidence for that. The FBI says he had "no idea" the assassination was actually going to happen until he found that note.
- The Discord Connection: Robinson and Twiggs met through gaming circles.
- The Family Dynamic: Twiggs' family has been vocal about his struggles, but they also helped him through the initial FBI interviews.
- The Legal Side: Robinson is facing the death penalty. Twiggs is likely to be a star witness for the prosecution.
What happens next?
The trial for Tyler Robinson is shaping up to be one of the most expensive and high-profile cases in Utah history. We're talking "eight figures" in taxpayer costs.
As for the Kirk shooter trans partner, Lance Twiggs is probably going to spend the rest of his life trying to outrun this association. It’s a heavy burden. Being the person who lived with an assassin—and the person who held the evidence—isn't something that just goes away.
If you're following this case, the next big thing to watch for is the "doppelganger" defense. Robinson apparently claimed on Discord that a lookalike did the shooting to frame him. It’s a wild claim, and the forensic evidence—DNA and the texts to Twiggs—makes it a very tough sell for his defense team.
Actionable Insights for Following the Case:
- Monitor Court Filings: Look for the specific Discord logs that the FBI is using to establish the timeline between Robinson and Twiggs.
- Verify Sources: Avoid "breaking news" from unverified social media accounts; stick to local Utah outlets like the Salt Lake Tribune or federal updates for the most accurate details on the witness status.
- Understand the Legal Distinction: Remember that being a "romantic partner" of a suspect does not equal legal complicity unless "prior knowledge" or "material support" is proven, neither of which has been charged here.