Charlie Kirk Ballistics Report Comes Back ‘Inconclusive’
A Utah judge has unsealed a federal ballistics report in the murder case of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, revealing new details about the forensic evidence against accused gunman Tyler Robinson.
The newly public report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives states that examiners could not conclusively match a damaged bullet fragment recovered during the investigation to the rifle prosecutors say was used in the killing.
However, the same report confirmed that a spent cartridge casing was fired from the suspected murder weapon, giving prosecutors a significant piece of forensic evidence linking the gun to the scene.
According to the filing, investigators examined a deformed section of bullet jacket material along with four lead fragments. The report explained that an “inconclusive” result does not mean the bullet came from a different weapon. Instead, it means there were not enough identifiable markings left on the damaged projectile to make a definitive determination.
Law enforcement sources previously said the projectile likely struck bone and fragmented on impact, making a clean ballistic comparison difficult. Experts note that this is common in homicide investigations involving rifle rounds.
Retired FBI supervisory agent Jason Pack said the finding should not be viewed as a major setback for prosecutors.
“It is not a win for the defense,” Pack said, explaining that the inconclusive result applies only to the damaged fragment and not to the shell casing or the rifle itself.
The report became public after being attached to a defense motion filed under seal in January. Robinson’s attorneys had sought to stop further testing until their own expert could inspect and photograph the evidence. Judge Tony Graf ruled there was no valid reason to keep the filing secret, stating it contained no private or inflammatory material.
Prosecutors allege Robinson assassinated Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in September 2025.
Authorities say Robinson climbed onto a rooftop overlooking the event, positioned himself in a prone sniper stance, and fired a single shot across a courtyard into the crowd of roughly 3,000 people. Kirk was struck in the neck and later died from the wound, per Trending Politics.
Investigators also say they recovered the rifle wrapped in a blanket in nearby woods. Prosecutors claim DNA consistent with Robinson’s was found on the weapon, a towel, and several live rounds inside the rifle.
Additional evidence reportedly includes text messages in which Robinson discussed retrieving the rifle after the shooting.
“Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still,” he allegedly wrote hours after the murder.
Robinson has pleaded not guilty. He is expected back in court for a hearing on future media access to proceedings.
If convicted of aggravated murder, prosecutors could seek the death penalty.
The unsealed report offers a clearer picture of the evidence likely to be central at trial, where forensic testimony, digital messages, and DNA findings are expected to play a major role.
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