A major new development is casting doubt again over the prosecution’s case in the high-profile assassination of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as defense attorneys for accused gunman Tyler Robinson claim key forensic evidence does not add up.

Robinson’s legal team revealed that a federal analysis by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) was unable to match the bullet recovered from Kirk’s body to the rifle allegedly tied to Robinson. This claim will significantly weaken the prosecution’s central argument linking Robinson directly to the fatal shot.

The defense is now pushing to delay the upcoming preliminary hearing, since they need more time to analyze the evidence, including additional testing currently being conducted by the FBI.

Kirk, a prominent conservative figure and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed in September 2025 during a campus event at Utah Valley University in a long-range shot.

Robinson, 22, was later arrested after a family member gave him up. He now faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder, and prosecutors have indicated they may pursue the death penalty.

Despite the defense’s claims, prosecutors maintain that other evidence, including DNA and digital communications, ties Robinson to the crime. However, the emerging ballistic dispute is expected to become a central battleground in the case moving forward.