Tyler Robinson friend: 'He killed Charlie Kirk'

A friend of Tyler Robinson's, with whom he played Magic: The Gathering, spoke to The Washington Post about their communication. The Magic group had been seeing less of each other starting in the spring of 2025 and one friend said even online interactions became more sporadic.

"It would be occasionally a little talk, playing a game online," one Magic player said, per The Washington Post. "And then he killed Charlie Kirk."

Robinson has been charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at Utah Valley University as he spoke to students on campus. The Sept. 10 visit was the first stop on a campus tour that would go on without him in the months that followed.

Robinson's mother, who along with his father turned Robinson into police after they recognized him from surveillance footage, spoke to investigators during the investigation, telling them that her son "had started to lean more to the left." She also confirmed that he was in gay romantic relationship with his transgender roommate Lance Twiggs, who was taking black market cross-sex-hormones, according to leaked Discord messages from another of Robinson's friends who played Magic.

Federal prosecutors further say the man accused of killing conservative commentator Charlie Kirk sent messages bragging about completing an online word game less than an hour before the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University.

Court filings and reporting cited by the Washington Post state that Tyler Robinson exchanged messages with a friend on September 10, the day Kirk was shot and killed.

Approximately 55 minutes before gunfire, Robinson sent a message celebrating his success in Wordle, a daily online puzzle in which players attempt to guess a five-letter word in six tries or fewer.

According to the report, Robinson told his friend he correctly guessed the word “pouty” in three attempts. The message included a screenshot of his results and a meme.

The friend responded with a congratulatory meme, stating it took him five attempts to solve the puzzle.

Prosecutors allege the timing of the exchange is relevant to the investigation. At the time the messages were sent, Robinson had already driven roughly three hours from his residence and was approaching the area where Kirk’s speaking engagement was being held.

Authorities say Robinson was moving toward the venue shortly before the shooting occurred.

Investigators have also interviewed individuals who knew Robinson prior to the attack. Several friends told authorities that Robinson had previously made comments while intoxicated about Republican politicians “catching a bullet.” Those individuals said they viewed the remarks as jokes and did not believe Robinson was capable of carrying out violence.

Authorities have described the killing of Kirk as a political assassination attack. 

Robinson was taken into custody following the shooting and has been charged with aggravated murder and other offenses. Robinson has not yet entered a plea, according to court records.