A Utah judge has unveiled a federal ballistics report in the case against Tyler Robinson, who is charged with the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. This revelation highlights a challenging aspect of gun-related cases: bullets often leave ambiguous traces.
The report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives indicates that examiners were unable to definitively link a bullet fragment found during the investigation to the alleged murder firearm. Notably, the report confirmed a match between the casings and the rifle prosecutors assert was used by Robinson.
This new document expands on earlier court discussions, detailing what was analyzed, including a “deformed/damaged” bullet jacket piece alongside four lead fragments.
The report became public as part of a defense motion filed confidentially on January 9, which aimed to prevent further evidentiary testing until a defense specialist could review and photograph the materials. Judge Tony Graf concluded there was no reason to maintain the filing’s confidentiality, determining it did not contain any “private or inflammatory information.”
An appendix in the ATF report reveals that “inconclusive” results imply it is “an examiner’s opinion that there is an insufficient quality and/or quantity of individual characteristics to identify or exclude.”
According to two law enforcement sources familiar with the ongoing investigation, the inability to match the bullet to the rifle stems from projectile damage caused during impact with bone, a situation not uncommon based on expert assessments.
“It is not a win for the defense,” stated retired FBI supervisory agent Jason Pack. “The prosecution is now addressing the gap with the assistance of the FBI and advanced technology.”
Ballistics are rarely the sole piece of evidence in homicide investigations, he added, and the inconclusive nature of the finding relates specifically to the fragment, not the casing or the rifle discovered near the scene.
“The defense is executing its duty, ensuring they have the opportunity to scrutinize the evidence before any alterations occur,” Pack noted. “This should not be interpreted as a weakness in the prosecution’s argument.”
The ATF also analyzed a .30-06 cartridge case that investigators identified as having been discharged from the Exhibit 1 rifle, which prosecutors attribute to Robinson’s grandfather’s Mauser.
“We are a considerable distance from trial, and the public should refrain from drawing sweeping conclusions from one preliminary motion regarding a single bullet fragment,” Pack advised.
Robinson is charged with shooting Kirk during a Turning Point USA event in September 2025. Prosecutors maintain he fired from a rooftop across a courtyard during Kirk’s speech, fatally striking him in the neck in front of a crowd of about 3,000.
Additionally, prosecutors allege that separate testing revealed DNA matching Robinson’s on the weapon, a towel, and three out of four rounds retrieved. Investigators claim marks resembling impressions from a shooter were found on the gravel rooftop.
🚨🇺🇸 Update on the Charlie Kirk case: The ATF forensic report is out.
The bullet that killed him was a .30-caliber fragment consistent with Tyler Robinson’s Mauser 98 rifle, but too deformed for a definitive match.
Officially inconclusive.
The spent cartridge case?… https://t.co/N6gaEOldZF pic.twitter.com/tOFGKntzxv
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 16, 2026
Police recovered the rifle wrapped in a blanket in a wooded area near the campus, according to prosecutors. They assert that text exchanges between Robinson and his partner, Lance Twiggs, reveal intentions to reclaim the rifle.
“Stuck in Orem for a little while longer yet,” Robinson purportedly said hours following the incident. “Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still.”
Twiggs is aiding authorities in their inquiry and has not faced charges.
Robinson is scheduled for a hearing on Friday regarding a motion to prohibit news cameras from attending future sessions. He faces the potential of the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder.
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