OAN Staff Addie Davis
11:18 AM – Tuesday, March 31, 2026
The attorneys for Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, have requested to delay a preliminary hearing in order to review evidence, including a ballistics analysis that could aid his defense.
Robinson’s defense team revealed that an analysis from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) “could not conclusively connect a bullet fragment recovered during an autopsy to the rifle found near the scene,” as reported by the Associated Press.
According to court documents, the FBI is running more tests.
“[The agency] was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr. Robinson,” the recent motion filed by the defense stated, sources reported.
The Associated Press explained that in a forensic ballistics analysis, experts look for microscopic markings left on a bullet after being fired–with no two firearms making identical markings–and that the success depends largely on the size and condition of the bullet fragments.
His defense team asked for a delay of six months to the preliminary hearing scheduled in May, per The Hill.
“The defense team has devoted, and will continue to devote, significant resources, to processing discovery, including identifying materials not yet received to inform readiness for the preliminary hearing,” the court filing stated according to the Daily Mail.
“However, the defense team is realistic and the comprehensive review required to determine what is missing will take hundreds of hours,” it added.
The filing said that based on final reports, “the defense may very well decide to offer the testimony of the ATF firearm analyst as exculpatory evidence,” The Hill reported.
Prosecutors will reportedly seek the death penalty in the case.
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