Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man charged in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, are seeking to delay upcoming court proceedings as they review new forensic evidence they say could undermine the prosecution’s case.
In a recent filing to District Judge Tony Graf in Utah, Robinson’s defense team requested a six-month delay for a preliminary hearing scheduled in May, arguing they need additional time to analyze evidence suggesting the bullet that killed Kirk may not match the rifle allegedly tied to their client.
According to the motion, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted an initial analysis but “was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson.” The defense noted that the FBI is currently conducting a second comparative bullet analysis and a lead bullet analysis, though neither has been completed.
“Again, until the defense receives the case files and protocols relating to these analyses, and has had them independently evaluated by its expert, they will not be in a position to assess the reliability of this evidence if either the State or the defense decides to proffer it,” Robinson’s attorneys wrote.
They added that depending on the final results, “the defense may very well decide to offer the testimony of the ATF firearm analyst as exculpatory evidence.”
Ballistics experts typically attempt to match bullets to firearms by examining microscopic markings left as a bullet travels through a gun barrel, often described as being similar to a fingerprint. However, the defense argues that the current findings are inconclusive and could ultimately clear Robinson.
The request for more time comes as Robinson’s legal team says it is still working through a massive volume of evidence provided by prosecutors. According to court filings, the material includes roughly 20,000 files—amounting to more than 61,500 pages of documents, 31 hours of audio recordings, and over 700 hours of video spanning more than 5,000 clips. The defense estimates it will take at least 60 days to complete an initial review.
Robinson is facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if he is convicted. He has not yet entered a plea.
Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative activist, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at a rally on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10.
Authorities allege that Robinson later confessed to his father that he carried out the shooting. His father reportedly relayed that information to a youth pastor with connections to the U.S. Marshals Service. Robinson ultimately surrendered to law enforcement at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office the following night.
In addition to the evidentiary dispute, Robinson’s attorneys have raised concerns about transparency in the case. They have pushed for proceedings to be televised, arguing that “Keeping court proceedings as public as possible helps to quell and contradict the tide of misinformation,” while warning that secrecy could fuel conspiracy theories.
A separate hearing is scheduled for April 17 to address a defense motion seeking to ban cameras from the courtroom.
The outcome of the pending forensic analyses—and whether the court grants additional time—could play a critical role in shaping the trajectory of the high-profile case.
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