The FBI has launched an investigation into a wave of bizarre “theories and questions” surrounding Charlie Kirk’s shooting that spread across social media like wildfire following his assassination.
Director Kash Patel revealed on Sunday that the FBI is investigating whether Tyler Robinson, the man accused of the shooting at Utah Valley University, may have had help in carrying out the attack. Agents are also looking into peculiar hand gestures made by members of the crowd, as well as “stilted” text messages Robinson sent to his partner, which raised concerns due to their strange and awkward phrasing. The revelations came on the day of Kirk’s funeral, which was attended by thousands.
Twist in the Tale
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“We are examining every facet of this assassination,” Patel said on X Sunday afternoon, as around 200,000 people gathered in Arizona for Kirk’s funeral. Patel said that officials are “meticulously investigating theories and questions,” including “the location from where the shot was taken” and “the possibility of accomplices.”
He added that agents are also looking into “the text message confession and related conversations,” “Discord chats,” “the angle of the shot and bullet impact,” and “how the weapon was transported.”
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Patel also said that investigators would review “hand gestures observed as potential ‘signals’ near Charlie at the time of his assassination, and visitors to the alleged shooter’s residence in the hours and days leading up to September 10.”
“To protect the integrity of the investigation and subsequent prosecution, we cannot release every piece of information we have to the public right now,” he said. “We will ensure every question is addressed at the appropriate moment.”
The call for transparency comes after the FBI faced backlash for not being able to track Robinson for 33 hours until his family turned him in, and for wrongfully detaining two other men during the search.
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Robinson, 22, faces charges for the fatal shooting of Kirk during a Turning Point event at Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10, an incident that left the nation in shock. In the aftermath, social media saw a surge of conspiracy theories.
Strange Facts
The ‘second shooter’ or accomplice theory went viral after footage showed Robinson talking into a doorbell camera about the murder shortly after he scampered away from the Losee Center at Utah Valley University.
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University officials themselves turned this video over to the bureau, taken from security camera footage. The footage reportedly shows a man walking by the house, speaking into a cellphone about the murder.
The FBI is not sure whether the man in the video is Robinson or not, and public statements given by officials have all said they believe he acted alone. As part of the investigation, at least one family that lives near the UVU campus was interviewed.
Another theory circulating online revolves around the hand gestures made by two men believed to be security at the event. One man appears to adjust his hat while holding a phone, while the other moves his arms in a curious way and glances around. Observers on social media speculated that the gestures could be signals related to the shooting.
Investigators have not confirmed any link, and authorities have not named either man as being involved in the shooting. However, Patel’s Sunday X post indicates that the possibility has not been dismissed.
At the same time, some social media users questioned whether the ‘stilted’ text messages exchanged between Robinson and his 22-year-old partner, Lance Twiggs, were authentic, especially in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
In what ultimately became their final text exchange, Robinson instructed Twiggs to “drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.”
Prosecutors said the alleged shooter had left a note that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
“What?????????????? You’re joking, right????” Twiggs responded.
Robinson replied: “I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.”
An apparently panicked Twiggs asked: “You weren’t the one who did it right????” Robinson answered: “I am, I’m sorry.”
Soon after prosecutors revealed the text exchange, some social media users pointed out the awkward, almost scripted tone of the conversation.
Patel’s post addresses this directly, saying the FBI is looking into “the text message confession and related conversations.”
The FBI director did put one conspiracy theory to rest, saying that the idea Kirk’s killer might have escaped on a private plane is false.
The theory had gained traction on social media after someone pointed out that a plane flying out of the area about 30 minutes after Kirk was killed had ‘suspiciously’ disappeared from radar.
Addressing the matter, Patel wrote: “Regarding specific details, such as questions about the plane that allegedly turned off its transponder after departing from an airport near the assassination site, we can share updates when answers are confirmed.”
