Tyler Robinson’s Attorneys Claim Bullet Used To Kill Charlie Kirk ‘May Not’ Match Rifle In New Court Docs

Tyler Robinson’s attorneys say the bullet that killed conservative commentator Charlie Kirk may not match the rifle prosecutors have tied to the accused shooter, according to a new court filing that seeks to delay key proceedings in the case.

Robinson, 22, faces capital murder charges and could face the death penalty in connection with Kirk’s killing at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

In a motion filed Friday, defense lawyers said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives “was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr Robinson.”

The defense team said it may call the ATF firearms analyst to testify as exculpatory evidence. The motion also asks the court to push the preliminary hearing back at least six months, arguing the volume and complexity of forensic evidence requires more time and outside experts to review.

The filing said DNA reports produced by the FBI and the ATF will take time to analyze because reports indicate several different DNA samples were found on some items of evidence. The defense also argued that interpreting mixed DNA samples and evaluating whether the government’s testing followed validated procedures is complicated work requiring specialists.

“As these cases indicate, determining the number of contributors to a DNA mixture and determining whether the FBI and the ATF reliably applied validated and correct scientific procedures… is a complicated process which requires the assistance of various types of experts, including forensic biologists, geneticists, system engineers and statisticians, all of whom must review and evaluate” multiple categories, the filing states.

Stop posting that the bullet that killed Charlie Kirk doesn’t match Tyler Robinson’s rifle.

The filing clearly says, “The result of the comparison was inconclusive.” pic.twitter.com/FYjFnqeHuU

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 31, 2026

Defense attorneys added that prosecutors have provided roughly 20,000 electronic audio files, videos and written documents as part of discovery.

“The defense team has devoted, and will continue to devote, significant resources, to processing discovery, including identifying materials not yet received to inform readiness for the preliminary hearing,” the filing states.

“However, the defense team is realistic and the comprehensive review required to determine what is missing will take hundreds of hours.”

“What is known at present is that Mr Robinson has not yet received the forensic case files and data necessary to investigate, through the use of qualified experts, the scientific reports the state intends to introduce at the preliminary hearing,” the attorneys continued.

Defense lawyers and prosecutors previously met March 12. Based on that meeting, the defense said it expects the state to present “discrete ‘buckets’ of evidence through three identified law enforcement witnesses at the preliminary hearing.” The defense said those buckets would include “conclusory forensic DNA and ballistic reports authored by the FBI and the ATF,” social media data, testimony from law enforcement about the crime scene and search locations, and testimony from Robinson’s parents and roommate, plus what the filing described as “a significant amount of hearsay” from “non-testifying peace officers.”

RELATED: Erika Kirk, Prosecutors Score Legal Win In Death Penalty Case Against Tyler Robinson 

Prosecutors have alleged Robinson drove three hours from his home to the campus to kill Kirk, 31.

Authorities have said Robinson was turned over to police by his father, Matt Robinson, after the father recognized what he believed was his own father’s rifle in images released during the manhunt. Police have said Tyler Robinson’s grandfather gave him the rifle, and investigators allege it was used in the killing.

Court documents also cite messages Robinson allegedly sent to his roommate and partner, Lance Twiggs, describing efforts to retrieve the rifle and worries about leaving evidence behind.

RELATED: Tyler Robinson Moves to Block Video of Charlie Kirk Shooting From Being Introduced as Evidence

“If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on,” Robinson allegedly wrote. “I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.”

“I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle,” he allegedly added.

Robinson is due back in court April 17, when attorneys are expected to debate whether cameras and microphones will be allowed in the courtroom. Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has called for transparency, saying: “We deserve to have cameras in there.”

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