Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Negotiated ‘Gentle’ Surrender, Feared Being Shot by Police

New details have emerged about how Tyler Robinson — the 22-year-old accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk — was persuaded to surrender to police last week. According to Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby, the suspect feared being shot during a SWAT raid and requested a “peaceful, gentle” arrest.

Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in the deadly rooftop shooting that killed Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. Authorities allege Robinson fired a single round from a .30-06 rifle, striking Kirk in the neck as he answered student questions in the courtyard below.

Sheriff Describes How Robinson Was Brought In

At a Wednesday press conference, Sheriff Brooksby described the moment he received a call from a friend — a former law enforcement officer — informing him that the shooter’s identity was known.

“I could tell his voice was kind of shaky, so my first thought is, ‘Who died?’” Brooksby recalled. “And then I couldn’t fathom what actually came out of his mouth.”

The friend told him that Robinson was the shooter, that he was located in Washington County, and that he had been convinced by his parents not to take his own life. Brooksby said the parents played a critical role in talking their son down from suicidal ideation.

“Tyler knew it was just inevitable with all the law enforcement pressure — his picture in the news, the gun, the news coverage,” Brooksby explained. “He knew it was inevitable that he would be caught.”

Out of concern for his safety and the safety of others, Robinson reportedly requested a “peaceful, gentle” surrender — a request the sheriff said he honored to prevent violence.

Upon arrest, Robinson was described as “quiet and somber.” The sheriff’s department did not question him, choosing instead to wait for lead investigators from the Utah County Attorney’s Office.

Suspect’s Family and Partner ‘Need to Lay Low’

Brooksby also confirmed that Robinson’s transgender roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, is now in protective custody at an undisclosed location far from their shared residence in St. George, Utah.

“He hates conservatives and Christians,” a family member of Twiggs 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.”

The family source added that Twiggs had been “getting progressively worse” over the past year, was “always very angry,” and had a history of substance abuse and emotional instability.

Brooksby urged the media to clarify that a local sheriff’s deputy with the same last name as the shooter — Robinson — is not related, after reports of harassment against the uninvolved officer.

Radicalization and Planning

Text messages between Robinson and Twiggs, released earlier this week by prosecutors, show that the attack had been planned for over a week. In the texts, Robinson confessed to the shooting and expressed hope of keeping it a secret for the rest of his life — while also giving detailed instructions on hiding evidence and deleting communication logs.

Prosecutors say the attack was politically motivated, citing the shooter’s disdain for Kirk’s views on transgender issues and a clear expression of hatred toward conservatives. According to authorities, Robinson fired only after Kirk began addressing gender identity during the event.

The Charges and Ongoing Investigation

Robinson faces multiple charges including:

• Aggravated murder

• Obstruction of justice (2 counts)

• Felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury

• Witness tampering (2 counts)

• Committing a violent offense in the presence of a child

Sheriff Brooksby said law enforcement officials are also investigating Twiggs’ associates and examining whether any outside actors played a role in the radicalization process.

The weapon used in the assassination — a Mauser .30-06 rifle — was later discovered in a wooded area near the university, wrapped in a towel.

Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old husband and father of two, had launched his “American Comeback Tour” just days earlier. He was known nationwide for creating Turning Point USA, a conservative organization aimed at reaching young Americans through debate, discussion, and activism.

He was pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to the hospital.