The Federal Bureau of Investigation has ended protective services for Lance Twiggs, the romantic partner and former roommate of Tyler Robinson, the man charged in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to law enforcement sources.
Twiggs had been under FBI protection for several months following Robinson’s arrest in connection with the Sept. 10 shooting at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was appearing at a political event. The bureau has not publicly stated why the protective detail was withdrawn. Twiggs has not been charged with any crime.
Robinson, 22, is accused of killing Kirk during an outdoor Turning Point USA event that drew a large crowd. Authorities say Kirk was shot from a distance while addressing attendees. He was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Robinson was arrested two days after the shooting following a multi-agency search. Prosecutors have charged him with aggravated murder and additional felony counts, including obstruction of justice. Court filings indicate prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
According to charging documents, investigators recovered a rifle believed to have been used in the shooting and cited forensic evidence and digital communications tying Robinson to the attack. Authorities have also referenced a handwritten note and text messages allegedly sent by Robinson in the days surrounding the killing.
Robinson has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys have filed multiple pretrial motions, including challenges related to prosecutorial conduct and jurisdiction. The case remains in the pretrial phase.
Twiggs, 22, became a focus of the investigation because of his relationship with Robinson and communications cited by investigators. Law enforcement officials have previously said Twiggs cooperated with authorities during the early stages of the case, prompting the FBI to provide protective services amid safety concerns and public attention.
Sources said the FBI detail included multiple agents assigned to Twiggs for several months. The protection was discontinued earlier this winter. Since then, Twiggs has relocated out of state and is represented by legal counsel.
Neither the FBI nor federal prosecutors have indicated that Twiggs is a suspect, and officials said no charges are pending against him.
The case is scheduled to return to court in Utah’s Fourth District Court as prosecutors and defense attorneys continue pretrial proceedings.
Court documents reveal that shortly before the murder, Robinson allegedly texted Twiggs to “look under my keyboard” in the pair’s shared apartment.
Investigators say the message pointed to a handwritten note from Robinson, in which he wrote, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.”
Authorities report that Twiggs and Robinson exchanged several text messages immediately after the killing, during which Twiggs inquired whether Robinson was indeed the one who shot Kirk.
“You weren’t the one who did it right????” Twiggs allegedly asked.
“I am, I’m sorry,” Robinson allegedly responded, according to court filings.
Relatives to Twigg say he became radicalized over time.
“He hates conservatives and Christians,” a Twiggs relative previously told Fox News Digital. “He hated us. He was not raised that way, but he, over the years, has become really detached [and] been radicalized.”
“He has obviously gotten progressively worse the last year or two,” the relative said, adding that he’s “always very angry.”
Meanwhile, Robinson’s legal team has asked a judge to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office from prosecuting the case, saying a potential conflict of interest exists because a family member of one of the prosecutors was present at the shooting.
In a motion filed by Robinson’s defense, attorneys contend that the adult child of a deputy county attorney was at the event when Kirk was shot and later communicated with the prosecutor about what occurred. They argue the connection could bias the prosecution’s decisions and jeopardize Robinson’s right to a fair trial.
Prosecutors, however, maintain there is no conflict of interest. In filings opposing the motion, the Utah County Attorney’s Office said the prosecutor’s child did not witness the shooting firsthand, has no substantive information about the crime and thus would not be called as a witness.