FBI Ends Protective Detail for Lance Twiggs in Charlie Kirk Assassination Case
What Just Happened: The Key Development
Quick Answer:
The FBI has ended its four-man protective detail for Lance Twiggs, the 22-year-old transgender roommate and romantic partner of Tyler Robinson — the man charged with assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Twiggs has not been charged with any crime and was described by investigators as cooperative throughout the case.
A law enforcement source confirmed the development to Fox News Digital in mid-January 2026, roughly four months after the shooting. The FBI provided no public explanation for ending Twiggs’ protection. NewsNation separately confirmed the news through a family member of Twiggs.
The end of the protective detail marks a significant step in the ongoing case. It suggests investigators no longer believe Twiggs faces an active threat — or that their assessment of his safety has changed enough to withdraw dedicated resources.
Twiggs’ role in the case has been central from the start. He provided key evidence that helped investigators build their case against Robinson and was described by Utah Governor Spencer Cox as having been “very cooperative” with authorities.
Who Is Lance Twiggs?
Lance Twiggs, 22, was Tyler Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner at the time of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. He was in the process of transitioning from male to female, according to reporting from Fox News Digital and other outlets.
Twiggs had a difficult personal history before becoming central to one of 2025’s most significant criminal cases. According to a relative who spoke to Fox News Digital:
- He was kicked out of his parents’ home at age 18
- He initially lived with his grandparents
- He then moved into a townhome in St. George, Utah, with several college roommates
- He struggled with drug and alcohol abuse and video game addiction
- He had ongoing conflicts with family members related to his gender identity
After his other roommates moved out, Robinson moved in. The two eventually became romantic partners and lived together for roughly a year until Robinson’s arrest in September 2025.
A relative described the pair’s relationship as a “descent into delusion,” saying the two “didn’t seem like they were in a real world” during their time together.
Why Was Twiggs Under FBI Protection?
Twiggs was thrust into the national spotlight almost immediately after the shooting — and not by his own choice.
Investigators revealed that Robinson had allegedly left a handwritten note in the apartment he shared with Twiggs, instructing Twiggs to “look under my keyboard.” That note reportedly stated: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it.”
Shortly after Kirk was shot, the two allegedly exchanged text messages in which Twiggs asked Robinson directly whether he had done it.
That made Twiggs an immediate key witness in a case with enormous national attention. It also put him in the sights of people who were angry, grieving, or conspiratorially minded.
Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby told reporters shortly after Robinson’s arrest that Twiggs was being kept in a “safe space very far away from St. George,” and that law enforcement from a separate agency was speaking with Twiggs’ associates. Brooksby noted that both Twiggs and Robinson’s family members needed to “lay low for a long time.”
The FBI and Twiggs’ family confirmed that a security detail was put in place because of threats received in the weeks following the assassination. A relative told Fox News Digital that Twiggs and members of his family received threats significant enough to warrant the four-person security detail.
Why Did FBI Protection End?
The FBI has not publicly explained its decision to end Twiggs’ protective detail. The agency confirmed through a law enforcement source that the security arrangement ended around January 15, 2026 — approximately four months after the shooting.
Several factors likely contributed to the decision:
1. Twiggs has not been charged with any crime. Investigators concluded he was not a suspect. His cooperation with authorities placed him firmly in the role of witness, not defendant.
2. Twiggs provided key evidence early. By turning over the text message exchange and cooperating with investigators, Twiggs helped establish critical elements of the prosecution’s case against Robinson. With Robinson in custody and formally charged, the immediate threat environment around the case had stabilized.
3. The threat level likely decreased over time. In the weeks immediately following Kirk’s assassination, public emotions were extremely high. As the case moved into standard court proceedings — with Robinson in jail awaiting trial — the urgency of immediate physical threats presumably diminished.
4. FBI resources are finite. A dedicated four-person security detail represents a significant commitment of federal law enforcement personnel. Agencies regularly reassess such deployments as threat levels change.
Whether Twiggs has relocated remains unclear. The FBI has not commented on his current whereabouts.
What the Text Messages Reveal
The alleged text message exchange between Robinson and Twiggs has become one of the most closely examined pieces of evidence in the case — and also one of the most debated.
According to court filings, before the shooting, Robinson sent Twiggs a message asking him to “look under my keyboard.” Investigators say this pointed to the handwritten note Robinson left behind.
After the shooting, prosecutors allege the following exchange took place:
- Twiggs to Robinson: “You weren’t the one who did it right????”
- Robinson to Twiggs: “I am, I’m sorry.”
Prosecutors have argued these messages demonstrate Robinson’s guilt and Twiggs’ lack of involvement — he appears to have been genuinely surprised and distressed by the news.
Robinson’s defense team has not conceded the authenticity or interpretation of these messages. However, prosecutors have argued in court that the texts show “confusion, not bias,” in response to a defense motion challenging the prosecution’s conflict of interest claims.
Twiggs also provided investigators with the physical note Robinson left behind. Governor Cox confirmed in public statements that this note — combined with other messages about logistics of the shooting — was central to the investigation.
The Case Against Tyler Robinson: Where Things Stand
As of early 2026, the case against Tyler James Robinson is proceeding through the Utah court system with a potential death penalty on the table.
Charges
Robinson, 22, has been charged with:
- Aggravated murder (the primary charge)
- Two counts of obstruction of justice
- Felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury
- Two counts of witness tampering
- Commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child
Key Evidence
The prosecution’s case rests on multiple layers of evidence:
- DNA match: FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that DNA from a towel wrapped around the firearm and a screwdriver found at the scene both matched Robinson
- Handwritten note: Robinson allegedly wrote out his intentions before the shooting
- Text messages: The exchange with Twiggs shortly after the shooting
- Text messages before the shooting: Robinson allegedly expressed a desire to “take out” Kirk to another person
- Video footage: Surveillance and campus cameras tracked Robinson’s movements before and after the shooting
- Forensic evidence: Shoe impressions, a forearm imprint, and a palm print were recovered from the rooftop where the shooter fired
Court Proceedings Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sept. 10, 2025 | Charlie Kirk assassinated at Utah Valley University |
| Sept. 12, 2025 | Tyler Robinson surrenders after 33-hour manhunt |
| Sept. 16, 2025 | Robinson formally charged; prosecution announces death penalty intent |
| Dec. 11, 2025 | Robinson’s first in-person court appearance |
| Jan. 15–16, 2026 | FBI ends Twiggs’ protective detail; Robinson’s court hearing |
| Jan. 16, 2026 | Judge denies motion to remove Utah County prosecutors |
| Jan. 19, 2026 | Erika Kirk files speedy trial motion |
| Jan. 22, 2026 | Death penalty challenge denied by judge |
| May 18, 2026 | Preliminary hearing scheduled (three days) |
The Death Penalty Question
Prosecutors announced their intent to seek the death penalty at Robinson’s first court appearance. Defense attorneys challenged this on procedural grounds — specifically arguing that one of the prosecutors has a daughter who was present at the assassination.
Judge Tony Graf rejected that motion. He also rejected the defense’s effort to remove the entire Utah County Attorney’s Office from the case.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has been actively involved in the proceedings. She filed a speedy trial motion in January 2026 out of concern about delays, and has fought to keep news cameras in the courtroom.
Key Figures in the Case
Tyler Robinson, 22 — The accused. A former honors student from Washington, Utah. He grew up in a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints family, received a near-full scholarship to Utah State University, and later became an apprentice electrician. His parents are registered Republicans. He is registered to vote without party affiliation. He allegedly told investigators he killed Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred” and that “some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Lance Twiggs, 22 — Robinson’s roommate and romantic partner. Not charged with any crime. Described as cooperative with investigators. No longer under FBI protection as of January 15, 2026.
Erika Kirk — Charlie Kirk’s widow. Has been present at court proceedings, filed a speedy trial motion, and pushed for cameras in the courtroom. She has publicly pushed back on conspiracy theories about her husband’s assassination, telling Candace Owens simply: “Stop.”
Kathryn “Kathy” Nester — Robinson’s court-appointed defense attorney. A veteran public defender with decades of trial experience, also currently representing Kouri Richins in a separate high-profile Utah murder case.
Judge Tony Graf — The presiding judge in the Robinson case, based in Utah’s Fourth District Court in Provo.
Kash Patel — FBI Director. Faced significant criticism for an early, incorrect social media post claiming a suspect was in custody on the day of the shooting — a statement he had to retract 90 minutes later. Patel has since been the public face of the federal investigation.
The Broader Context: Political Violence in America
Kirk’s assassination did not happen in isolation. It came during a period of elevated political violence across the United States.
In June 2025, Melissa Hortman — the Minnesota House Speaker — and her husband were assassinated. The suspect in that case, Vance Boelter, had a hit list of dozens of Democratic politicians. Two others were shot and injured. Boelter has pleaded not guilty to federal murder charges.
Two separate assassination attempts targeted then-candidate and now-President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign.
Kirk’s killing sparked an intense political debate. Trump and some Republican officials framed political violence as exclusively a product of the left. The New York Times noted that this framing required ignoring the Minnesota assassinations, in which a right-wing suspect targeted Democratic officials.
Research data suggests political violence of all kinds is rising. According to the Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton University, more than 250 incidents of threats and harassment against local officials were reported in the first half of 2025 alone — a 9% increase from the previous year.
The case also ignited a wave of public firings and reprimands of people who made comments about Kirk’s death deemed inappropriate. The New York Times described the campaign as morphing into a conservative version of “cancel culture,” with the crackdown extending to criticism of Kirk generally.
FAQ: People Also Ask
Who is Lance Twiggs? Lance Twiggs is the 22-year-old transgender roommate and romantic partner of Tyler Robinson, the man charged with assassinating Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025. Twiggs has not been charged with any crime. He is described by investigators as cooperative and provided key text message evidence against Robinson.
Why did the FBI protect Lance Twiggs? Twiggs and his family received threats in the weeks following Kirk’s assassination. Because Twiggs was a central witness in an extremely high-profile case, the FBI assigned a four-person security detail to protect him. That protection ended around January 15, 2026, roughly four months after the shooting.
Has Lance Twiggs been charged with a crime? No. Twiggs has not been charged with any crime in connection with Charlie Kirk’s assassination or any other matter related to this case.
Who killed Charlie Kirk? Tyler James Robinson, 22, has been charged with the aggravated murder of Charlie Kirk. Robinson allegedly shot Kirk with a rifle from a rooftop approximately 142 yards away during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Robinson surrendered after a 33-hour manhunt and has been in custody since September 12, 2025.
What is Tyler Robinson’s motive? Robinson allegedly told investigators he killed Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred” and believed “some hate can’t be negotiated out.” Before the shooting, he allegedly sent text messages expressing a desire to “take out” Kirk. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Robinson espoused left-wing views.
Will Tyler Robinson face the death penalty? Prosecutors announced their intent to seek the death penalty at Robinson’s first court appearance in September 2025. A judge denied defense motions to remove the death penalty from consideration. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 2026. The case is being prosecuted in Utah state court.
When did Charlie Kirk die? Charlie Kirk was assassinated on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, at the age of 31. He was shot by a single rifle bullet while speaking at an outdoor event organized by Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization he co-founded.
What happened at Charlie Kirk’s court case in January 2026? On January 16, 2026, Judge Tony Graf denied a defense motion to disqualify the Utah County Attorneys’ Office from the case. He also denied a challenge to death penalty eligibility. Kirk’s widow filed a speedy trial motion on January 19. A preliminary hearing is set for May 18, 2026.
Key Takeaways
Here is what we know as of early 2026:
- The FBI ended Lance Twiggs’ protective detail around January 15, 2026, four months after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The FBI gave no public explanation. Twiggs has not been charged with any crime.
- Twiggs was a central witness, providing the text message exchange in which Robinson allegedly confessed to the murder and cooperating fully with authorities from the beginning.
- The case against Tyler Robinson is strong on evidence. DNA, text messages, video footage, a handwritten note, and forensic trace evidence all connect Robinson to the crime.
- Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Two defense challenges — to remove prosecutors and to eliminate the death penalty — have both been rejected by the presiding judge.
- A preliminary hearing is set for May 2026. Erika Kirk has filed for a speedy trial. The full trial timeline remains to be determined.
- The broader context of political violence matters. Kirk’s assassination was one of multiple high-profile political killings in 2025. Researchers documented a 9% rise in threats and harassment against officials in the first half of the year alone.
What to watch next:
- The May 2026 preliminary hearing and whether it proceeds on schedule
- Any ruling on Erika Kirk’s speedy trial motion
- Whether Twiggs is called as a witness and what testimony he provides
- Further rulings on the death penalty as the case moves forward
Sources:
- Fox News Digital: FBI protection ends for Lance Twiggs in Charlie Kirk assassination case (January 15–17, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Assassination of Charlie Kirk (continuously updated through March 2026)
- NewsNation: Accused Charlie Kirk shooter Tyler Robinson’s roommate no longer under FBI protection (January 16, 2026)
- ABC News: Officials release video, plead for public’s help in tracking down person of interest in Charlie Kirk shooting (September 13, 2025)
- Al Jazeera: Tyler Robinson’s DNA matched to scene of Charlie Kirk’s killing, FBI says (September 16, 2025)
- Britannica: Assassination of Charlie Kirk (updated January 16, 2026)
- ABC4 Utah: Timeline: Court proceedings for Tyler Robinson (December 2025–2026)
- OAN: FBI ends protection for Lance Twiggs (January 16, 2026)
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