New court filings on Charlie Kirk's assassination have revealed that the fatal bullet that hit the TPUSA leader (recovered at autopsy) didn't match the alleged gunman, Tyler Robinson's rifle.
The investigation into the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk in September last year has hit a major bump. The defense attorneys of the accused gunman, Tyler Robinson, are now claiming that the fatal bullet that was recovered from the victim's body does not match the rifle that was allegedly used to shoot him. The new revelation could turn the whole case around, with fresh assumptions that Robinson may not have acted alone.
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old resident of Utah, was handed over to the police by his father after he allegedly confessed to having shot the conservative leader. In his very first court appearance in Provo, Utah, it was revealed that Robinson had confessed to killing Charlie Kirk during a group chat on Discord, according to the FBI. However, new court filings have further complicated the investigation.
In a new court document obtained by the Daily Mail, Tyler Robinson's attorneys have claimed that the bullet recovered from the victim's body at autopsy did not match the rifle allegedly tied to Robinson. The document allegedly stated:
"The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson."
The defense has highlighted complications in the forensic evidence against Tyler Robinson, noting that DNA results from the FBI and ATF revealed multiple profiles on key items that require detailed expert analysis. Attorneys also mentioned receiving nearly 20,000 files, including audio, video, and documents, but the case is still missing critical forensic data.
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in the neck in broad daylight while he was delivering a speech to students at Utah Valley University. The bullet was shot from a distance, and one of the cameras captured what looked like a man's silhouette on the roof of a faraway building on the campus itself.
Court documents say that Tyler Robinson's mother recognised her son's resemblance in FBI-released images of the suspect. After a confrontation with his family, Tyler Robinson allegedly admitted to being the shooter when urged by a family friend to surrender. Authorities allege his father turned him in after recognizing a family rifle tied to the crime. Text messages also suggest Robinson discussed retrieving the weapon.
The 22-year-old is currently facing capital murder charges over the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk and could potentially face a death sentence. However, with the new filing, the defense has requested at least six months' delay of the preliminary hearing and present testimony from an ATF firearm analyst as "exculpatory evidence." Prosecutors plan to present DNA and ballistic reports, social media evidence, and witness testimony, including statements from Robinson’s parents.
While Tyler Robinson has reportedly confessed to the crime, questions about whether he acted alone are gaining traction across conservative circles. In recent months, prominent figures like Candace Owens, Megyn Kelly, and Tucker Carlson have suggested this was not a one-man job and hinted at a broader conspiracy behind Charlie Kirk's killing, which was labelled a political assassination. With the new court filing, the discussion has intensified.
Recently, former counterterrorism official Joe Kent indicated that he may testify in Tyler Robinson's trial, as he is skeptical about the "lone shooter" narrative. In a March 2026 interview with journalist Michael Shellenberger, Kent suggested there may be more to the case than currently presented. Shellenberger wrote:
"Joe Kent says he is skeptical that Tyler Robinson, who confessed to killing Charlie Kirk, was the lone shooter. That accusation could undermine the prosecutors’ case against Robinson. Kent says he knew of the risk before he decided to speak out."
Tyler Robinson's next hearing is scheduled for April 17, 2026, and whether or not cameras and microphones should be allowed will be decided that day.
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