Nearly one year after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in front of thousands of people at Utah Valley University, disturbing text messages allegedly sent by the man accused of killing him are once again under scrutiny.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking at an event on the Utah college campus. Prosecutors say Tyler Robinson, now 23, planned the attack for more than a week before firing the deadly shot.
Robinson has pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated murder, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. On September 1, 2026, Utah District Judge Tony Graf ruled there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
But among the most chilling pieces of evidence revealed in the case are messages Robinson allegedly exchanged with his roommate and romantic partner in the hours after Kirk was killed.
According to prosecutors, Robinson sent a message on the day of the shooting instructing his roommate to stop what he was doing and look underneath Robinson’s keyboard.
There, the roommate allegedly discovered a handwritten note saying Robinson had an opportunity to kill Kirk and intended to take it.
The roommate apparently struggled to believe what he was reading and asked Robinson whether he had actually carried out the shooting.
Robinson allegedly admitted that he had.
Prosecutors say the conversation then turned to why Kirk had been targeted.
Robinson allegedly wrote that he had “enough of his hatred” and added that “some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
The roommate reportedly asked how long Robinson had been planning the attack. Robinson allegedly answered that it had been a little more than a week.
The messages also allegedly show Robinson worrying about evidence left behind.
According to charging documents, Robinson discussed trying to retrieve the rifle prosecutors say was used in the shooting and expressed hope that investigators had not already discovered it.
Authorities ultimately recovered a rifle near the scene.
Investigators also found ammunition containing bizarre engraved messages.
One cartridge allegedly included the phrase “Hey Facist! Catch!” — with “fascist” misspelled — while another referenced “Bella Ciao,” a song historically associated with the Italian anti-fascist resistance.
Other ammunition contained internet-meme-style phrases.
Robinson allegedly referred to the inscriptions in his messages as “mostly a big meme” and expressed frustration over potentially leaving the weapon behind.
Prosecutors say Robinson eventually instructed his roommate to delete their text conversation, forming part of the basis for witness-tampering allegations against him.
Investigators also examined messages from a Discord group chat allegedly connected to Robinson.
In one message presented as evidence, the sender allegedly told the group that he had been responsible for what happened at UVU and apologized.
The case took another dramatic turn during Robinson’s preliminary hearing this summer.
Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s former roommate and romantic partner, told investigators that Robinson returned to their Utah home the morning after the shooting.
According to Twiggs, he confronted Robinson about whether the messages were true.
Twiggs said Robinson confirmed they were, began crying and said he wished he had not done it.
Twiggs cooperated with prosecutors and investigators under an immunity agreement rather than testifying personally during the preliminary hearing. Robinson’s defense attorneys have challenged how prosecutors characterize the messages and other evidence and have argued that investigators did not adequately pursue evidence that might point elsewhere.
Prosecutors, however, contend there is extensive physical and digital evidence tying Robinson to Kirk’s killing.
Surveillance video allegedly showed a person matching Robinson’s appearance arriving on campus before the shooting and moving in a manner prosecutors said was consistent with concealing a rifle.
Authorities also recovered the suspected murder weapon and have presented DNA evidence, the handwritten note, text messages and engraved ammunition as part of their case.
Robinson surrendered to authorities on September 11, 2025, one day after Kirk was killed.
On September 1, Judge Graf ordered Robinson to stand trial.
Prosecutors argued they had amassed a “mountain of evidence” against him, while Robinson’s attorneys unsuccessfully sought to prevent the case from going forward or remove the possibility of capital punishment.
Robinson then pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
If he is ultimately convicted of aggravated murder, he could face the death penalty.
As the first anniversary of Kirk’s assassination approaches, the texts and handwritten note remain among the most disturbing evidence prosecutors say reveals what happened before and immediately after a killing that shocked the country.
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