Local, state, and federal agents arrived in Orem, Utah, hours after Charlie Kirk's murder to begin a search for the shooter.

Unbeknownst to the officers, sheriffs, and deputies scouring the scene for clues that day, the alleged shooter was right under their noses.

Tyler Robinson fled the Utah State University campus after allegedly firing the single fatal bullet that killed Kirk, but returned to try to retrieve his gun later that day, according to a fact sheet filed by prosecutors and obtained by PEOPLE.

The firearm was wrapped in a towel and hidden in bushes less than 500 feet from where Kirk had been shot just hours earlier.

He returned despite the ongoing investigation and the presence of law enforcement, who at the time had not yet discovered the gun.

This was revealed in a text exchange between Robinson and his transgender partner, during which he allegedly admitted to shooting Kirk.

Robinson directed his partner to retrieve a note he left under his keyboard before traveling the approximately 260 miles from St. George to Orem, which read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take advantage of it.”

His partner, who, according to all available evidence, was unaware of Robinson's alleged plan, "I'm still okay with my love, but I'm still stuck in [O]rem for a little while longer. It shouldn't be long before I get home, but I still need to grab my rifle. To be honest, I was hoping to keep this a secret until I die of old age. Sorry to involve you,” he wrote in one message.

The “rifle” is the firearm he allegedly used to shoot Kirk: a family heirloom that belonged to his grandfather and was later given to Robinson by his parents, according to the indictment.

Robinson allegedly wrote in a subsequent text message that he was monitoring the situation to determine the best time to retrieve the rifle.

“I had planned to pick up my rifle from the pickup point shortly thereafter, but most of that area of ??town was shut down. It's quiet, almost enough to get out, but there's a vehicle waiting,” Robinson wrote to his partner, according to the indictment.

He later wrote, “I can get closer, but there's a patrol car parked right next to it. I think they've already searched for that location, but I don't want to take any chances.”

Ultimately, Robinson was unsuccessful in retrieving the rifle from where it was dropped, telling his partner, “I had to leave it in a bush where I changed clothes. prints. How the hell am I going to explain to My old man, I lost it?”

Investigators found the gun and the towel, and prosecutors said at a September 16 press conference that Robinson's DNA was found on both.

His father also allegedly contacted him and asked him to send a photo to prove he still had the rifle after suspecting his son might be the shooter and learning authorities had found the gun.

Robinson is being held without bail in the Utah County Jail and was indicted on seven counts, including aggravated murder, on September 16. Prosecutors announced they will seek the death penalty in the case.