Rifle tied to Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer ‘doesn’t match bullet found at scene’

A bombshell claim has been made by Tyler Robinson's defence team, regarding the bullet used in Charlie Kirk's murder.

Robinson, 22, stands accused of murdering conservative activist Kirk while he was giving a talk at the Utah Valley University campus back on September 10, 2025.

His lawyers asked the judge to postpone a preliminary hearing which was scheduled for May, as they are asking for more time to investigate claims about the bullets used in the killing.

According to the Independent, recent court filings reveal Robinson's defence team has highlighted the results of a ballistics analysis carried out by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

It is alleged that the bullet fragment retrieved during Kirk's autopsy reportedly failed to 'establish a conclusive link' between a bullet fragment found in Kirk's post-mortem, and the rifle which was recovered near the crime scene.

Tyler Robinson's defence team has filed a motion asking for proceedings to be delayed (Photo by Bethany Baker-Pool/Getty Images)

The report from the ATF has been kept sealed, but the legal teams have made reference to it in other public documents.

The FBI is now conducting further tests on the fragment, following the inconclusive findings, and the defence team wishes to postpone the hearing to allow for more time for these tests to be completed.

According to news.com.au, his team claimed in the filing that the ATF was 'unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr Robinson'.

They have requested in their motion that the hearing be delayed by at least six months.

It is claimed they need more time to analyse the DNA reports, as they claim several different sets of DNA were found on some items of evidence, but they did not specify which.

The prosecution has previously stated that DNA consistent with Robinson was discovered on the fired cartridge, two unfired cartridges, as well as on the trigger of the rifle.

GB News reports that prosecutors allege the rifle was a Mauser model 98, previously belonging to Robinson's grandfather.

The defence team also said in their motion that they may try to use the analysis to clear Robinson's name, and are seeking to exonerate him during the preliminary hearing.

Charlie Kirk was shot dead while talking at a university campus (Photo by Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the prosecution is aiming to prove they have enough evidence to go ahead with the trial, and are allegedly seeking the death penalty for Robinson if he is found guilty of aggravated murder.

The prosecution has already submitted almost 20,000 electronic files, which are made up of audio recordings and videos, as well as written documents.

The prosecution also claims Robinson sent a text to his love interest saying he 'had enough' of Kirk's 'hatred'.

He allegedly wrote: "If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence... Only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel."

Robinson's father convinced his son to turn himself in, after he reportedly recognised the family rifle from footage on the news, and confronted Tyler on the phone.

His father persuaded him to speak to a family friend, a sheriff, and he allegedly confessed to the crime, CNN reports.

Robinson is next due back in court on April 17 as his defence team has filed a motion to ban cameras from the courtroom.

Kirk's widow, Erika, wants the trial to be fully public, arguing: "We deserve to have cameras in there."