Charlie Kirk’s Assassin Lived With Transgender Partner: What We Know and Why It Matters

Here’s the thing. I’ve been thinking hard since my post a few days ago—“Charlie Kirk Is Dead: Free Speech Silenced by a Rifle Shot?”—where I warned that violence isn’t an answer, that when someone kills a speaker, we silence more than a voice. Today, more details have leaked. Enough that we need to talk about them, cleanly and clearly, without stigma-shaming, but also without letting ideology distract from truth or justice.

One of the new facts: Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, reportedly lived with a transgender partner (male-to-female). According to sources via Fox Digital, Brooke Singman reports this partner is cooperating with the FBI. There are texts, communications, possibly other evidence linking Robinson and this individual, helping investigators to build their case. The transgender partner—once male, transitioning to female—is said not to have resisted cooperation, per those sources.

We don’t yet know motive. We don’t know whether that relationship influenced the shooting, or whether it’s a red herring in the public’s mind. But one thing is certain: the public reaction has already been polluted by prejudice and distraction. Some are using this to stoke fear of trans people. Others are using it to excuse or explain the murder in a way that avoids the real issue: violence as a political tactic.

In my earlier post, I cautioned: when we start measuring how many mass shooters were transgender, or how many “bad actors” are from group X or identity Y, what we are doing is not moving toward justice; we are sliding toward scapegoating. Because violence isn't a genetic trait. Extremism isn’t a sexual orientation. When we point to identity before behavior, we confuse the issue. We risk turning a crime into a vendetta against a class.

Still, we need to face the facts as they emerge:

• The FBI reportedly found texts between Robinson and this partner, and other communications. Those could help corroborate timeline, motive, planning.
• The partner is cooperating. That doesn’t mean culpability, but it means the investigation has a path.
• Some initial public commentary is already drawing a direct line: “trans shooter,” “trans partner,” as though identity explains action. That’s dangerous. It fuels bias. It distracts from criminal behavior.

Here’s what I believe, and what I argued before, and what we must argue now:

1. Identity is not motive. We must judge by actions, not by pronouns. If someone commits murder, we hold them accountable for that murder—not their sexuality, gender identity, or who they lived with. Let the court of law decide what matters. But let public discourse avoid letting identity eclipse evidence.
2. Free speech still matters, always. My previous post warned that when you kill someone because you can’t stand debate, you silence more than that person's voice; you silence the space where other voices might stand. Charlie Kirk’s last question before he was shot (in some reporting) was, “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” He answered, “Too many.” Then asked, “How many mass shooters in America over the last 10 years?” Counting or not counting gang violence. These are questions designed to provoke. That’s his job: to provoke, to question. Violence is the opposite of debate.
3. Don’t weaponize this for trans-fear. I expect some will use the detail of the transgender partner to spread fear or hatred of trans people. “See, they’re dangerous.” That’s a lie by association. It’s a logical fallacy. If someone’s partner is trans, that doesn’t make the shooter somehow morally tainted by default. Guilt is individual. If the partner committed a crime, charge the partner. Otherwise, leave them out of it. We must protect due process and avoid collective blame.
4. Transparent investigation is essential. We need accountability everywhere—FBI, law enforcement, media. Let them lay out evidence. Let the public see what’s solid and what is speculation. If the partner cooperated, that’s good. But cooperation doesn’t equal guilt. Texts don’t always mean incitement. We need courts and facts, not mob Twitter.
5. Media must resist sensationalism. Here’s where media often fails. Silence nuance. Push identity. Rush to link motive and identity. Use terms that inflame. If a shooter had a partner of a certain gender identity, that is news—but treat it like any other personal detail, not a headline grab. The responsibility is to inform, not to sensationalize. When outlets lead with “transgender partner = motive?” they trade truth for clicks and bias.
6. We must protect free speech while condemning violence. One does not cancel the possibility of trans identity being part of someone’s story—and we should respect privacy and avoid shame. But celebrating murder or defending it is not speech protection. That is moral collapse. We must draw clear lines: disagreement is allowed; threats or murder are not.
7. Community must reflect. Among conservatives, among liberals, among free speech defenders: this should be a warning. The moment we permit identity or ideology to shield or excuse violence, we lose our moral footing. The moment we cheer or excuse violence because of hate, we become what we claim to oppose.

So where do I stand, from my point of view—as Ryan “Dickie” Thompson?

I’m watching this situation with sadness and anger. Sadness that another voice was extinguished. Anger that we are already turning tragedy into partisan fodder before the facts are settled. I denounce the killing. I denounce the celebration. I condemn those who use identity as a lever for hate and those who cheer murder because they believe the target “deserved it.”

If Tyler Robinson is guilty—and the evidence suggests he will face trial—I want justice. If his transgender partner had any role in planning or inciting, then let that role be revealed in court. If not, let them be treated as a cooperating witness and a private individual with rights.

We must be better than the mob. The press must be better than the clickbait. The rest of us must be better than tribal outrage. Because if we are not, then every assassination, every outrage, every bit of violence becomes a new normal. And then free speech, the policy of asking simple questions in public, becomes a dangerous act.

I also want to offer a prediction: there will be an attempt to gentrify this story for politics. One side will use “trans shooter,” “LGBTQ freak,” “political radical” to smear an entire group. The other side will use the partner’s identity as a reason to deflect responsibility. Both are bad.

If there’s anything this moment calls for, it’s clarity. Courage. Truth.

I repeat what I said in my previous post: when someone kills a speaker, free speech is silenced. When someone celebrates that killing, culture is poisoned. When identity is used to excuse violence, justice is betrayed.

I don’t have all the facts. Neither do you. But I know this:

• We honor Charlie Kirk by insisting on due process.
• We honor him by refusing to reduce the narrative to identity politics.
• We honor him by holding the violent person responsible—no less, no more.
• And we honor him by defending a culture where asking “What is a woman?” or “Who should raise your children?” or “Why defend free speech?” is allowed without being met with bullets.

Disruptarian Blog: “Charlie Kirk Is Dead: Free Speech Silenced by a Rifle Shot?” https://disruptarian.com/blog/charlie-kirk-is-dead-free-speech-silenced-by-a-rifle-shot/

YouTube (transcript referenced): “Charlie Kirk Shooter’s Transgender Partner Cooperates With FBI” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9kJrcaok5I

Fox News Digital, Brooke Singman: “Exclusive: Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson lived with transgender partner” https://www.foxnews.com/politics/charlie-kirk-assassin-transgender-partner-fbi

Associated Press: “Charlie Kirk shooter Tyler Robinson identified by father in FBI images” https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-identified-robison

Reuters: “FBI arrests Tyler Robinson, suspected in Charlie Kirk assassination” https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi-arrests-suspect-charlie-kirk-shooting-2025-09-12/

PBS NewsHour: “Authorities detail arrest and charges in Charlie Kirk’s assassination” https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/charlie-kirk-shooter-arrested-tyler-robinson

Sky News Australia: “Rita Panahi exposes left celebrating Charlie Kirk’s murder” https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/rita-panahi-lefties-celebrating-charlie-kirks-murder/video/0bbb2949598c06ffdfcccc177f939722

The Hill: “DOJ weighs federal charges in Charlie Kirk assassination case” https://thehill.com/homenews/charlie-kirk-shooting-federal-charges/

CBS News: “Video shows chaos after Charlie Kirk assassination on campus” https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/charlie-kirk-shooting-video-campus/

Because arguments are the weapons of liberty. Murder is its destruction.

— Ryan “Dickie” Thompson, Disruptarian.com