A court filing by Tyler Robinson’s defense on Friday reveals the ATF has not been able to “identify” the bullet recovered in the autopsy of slain Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk with the rifle allegedly used in the September 10 shooting at Utah Valley University, according to the Daily Mail. Kirk was reportedly killed instantly by a single rifle shot that tore through his upper body and ripped open the carotid artery in his neck.
While not definitive (the bullet could be misshapen from the shooting), until it is resolved, the claim by the defense will fuel concerns about the circumstances of Kirk’s murder and whether Robinson was the shooter.
The bullet that killed conservative commentator Charlie Kirk did not match the rifle used by suspected killer Tyler Robinson, a bombshell new court filing states.
Robinson, 22, is facing capital murder charges and a potential death sentence for Kirk’s murder at Utah Valley University on September 10.
But his defense attorneys now argue that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ‘was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr Robinson.’
The defense team may now offer the ATF firearm analyst’s testimony as exculpatory evidence, they said in a motion filed on Friday to push the preliminary hearing back at least six months, Fox News reports.
It also notes that DNA reports filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and ATF will take time for the defense team to analyze because reports indicated that several different DNA were found on some items of evidence.
Fox News reported further on the defense’s court filing (excerpt):
Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative icon Charlie Kirk, have revealed who prosecutors intend to call to the stand and also asked the court to delay the preliminary hearing.
The filing, made by defense attorneys on Friday, states that prosecutors intend to call Robinson’s parents and his roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, to testify at the preliminary hearing. Robinson’s defense team is also asking the judge for a minimum six-month delay for the preliminary hearing, which is currently scheduled for May 18.
Robinson’s defense team said that defense attorneys received over 600,000 files from prosecutors during a meeting on March 12, which she says will take time to review. She also noted that the discovery isn’t complete yet.
“Discovery in this case is incomplete, voluminous, and the processing of it is complex,” the defense team wrote.
One of the defense’s experts, a forensic biologist, said she’d need six months to review the evidence.
Early in the case prosecutors filed an alleged text message chain between Robinson and his alleged male transgender lover Lance Twiggs in which he confessed to the shooting (via the BBC)
Robinson: drop what you are doing, look under my keyboard.
[When the roommate looked under the keyboard, there was a note that allegedly read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”]
Roommate: “What?????????????? You’re joking, right????
Robinson: I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.
Roommate: you weren’t the one who did it right????
Robinson: I am, I’m sorry
Roommate: I thought they caught the person?
Robinson: no, they grabbed some crazy old dude, then interrogated someone in similar clothing. I had planned to grab my rifle from my drop point shortly after, but most of that side of town got locked down. Its quiet, almost enough to get out, but theres one vehicle lingering.
Roommate: Why?
Robinson: Why did I do it?
Roommate: Yeah
Robinson: I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.
Robinson: If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.
Robinson: If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on. I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.
Roommate: How long have you been planning this?
Robinson: a bit over a week I believe. I can get close to it but there is a squad car parked right by it. I think they already swept that spot, but I don’t wanna chance it
Robinson: I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle…. I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle … idek if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits. didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with…. I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the [expletive] will I explain losing it to my old man….
only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel….
remember how I was engraving bullets? The [expletive] messages are mostly a big meme, if I see “notices bulge uwu” on fox new I might have a stroke alright im gonna have to leave it, that really [expletive] sucks…. judging from today I’d say grandpas gun does just fine idk. I think that was a $2k scope;-;
Robinson: delete this exchange
Robinson: my dad wants photos of the rifle … he says grandpa wants to know who has what, the feds released a photo of the rifle, and it is very unique. Hes calling me rn, not answering.
Robinson: since trump got into office [my dad] has been pretty diehard maga.
Robinson: Im gonna turn myself in willingly, one of my neighbors here is a deputy for the sheriff.
Robinson: you are all I worry about love
Roommate: I’m much more worried about you
Robinson: don’t talk to the media please. don’t take any interviews or make any comments. … if any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent
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Bullet used to kill Charlie Kirk did NOT match rifle allegedly used by suspect Tyler Robinson, new court filing claims
The bullet that killed conservative commentator Charlie Kirk did not match the rifle used by suspected killer Tyler Robinson, a bombshell new court filing states.
Robinson, 22, is facing capital murder charges and a potential death sentence for Kirk’s murder at Utah Valley University on September 10.
But his defense attorneys now argue that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ‘was unable to identify the bullet recovered at autopsy to the rifle allegedly tied to Mr Robinson.’
The defense team may now offer the ATF firearm analyst’s testimony as exculpatory evidence, they said in a motion filed on Friday to push the preliminary hearing back at least six months, Fox News reports.
It also notes that DNA reports filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and ATF will take time for the defense team to analyze because reports indicated that several different DNA were found on some items of evidence.
‘As these cases indicate, determining the number of contributors to a DNA mixture and determining whether the FBI and the ATF reliably applied validated and correct scientific procedures… is a complicated process which requires the assistance of various types of experts, including forensic biologists, geneticists, system engineers and statisticians, all of whom must review and evaluate’ several different categories, the filing states, according to Deseret News.
Robinson’s attorneys added that they have received about 20,000 electronic audio files, videos and written documents that prosecutors have presented as evidence in the case.
Attorneys representing accused gunman Tyler Robinson, 22 (pictured in December) claimed the bullet that was used to kill conservative commentator Charlie Kirk did not match the rifle he allegedly used
Kirk, 31, was shot dead as he visited Utah Valley University on September 10
‘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 filing states.
‘However, the defense team is realistic and the comprehensive review required to determine what is missing will take hundreds of hours.’
‘What is known at present is that Mr Robinson has not yet received the forensic case files and data necessary to investigate, through the use of qualified experts, the scientific reports the state intends to introduce at the preliminary hearing,’ the attorneys continued.
Defense attorneys and prosecutors had previously met on March 12.
Based on that meeting, the defense said in the motion it believes prosecutors will introduce ‘discrete “buckets” of evidence through three identified law enforcement witnesses at the preliminary hearing.
‘This includes a conclusory forensic DNA and ballistic reports authored by the FBI and the ATF, social media data, testimony by law enforcement officers about the crime scene and search locations, and testimony by Mr Robinson’s parents and roommate’ as well as ‘a significant amount of hearsay’ from ‘non-testifying peace officers.’
Prosecutors have alleged Robinson drove three hours from his home to the university campus to kill Kirk, 31.
He was turned over to authorities by his father, Matt, after he recognized his own dad’s rifle in the images released by police amid a manhunt for Kirk’s assassin.
Tyler’s grandfather had given him the rifle as a gift before he used it to kill Kirk, authorities have said.
After then recognizing the ‘unique’ gun, Matt texted his son, asking him for a picture of the family heirloom, which the suspect could not provide, according to police.
In a text exchanged between Tyler Robinson and his roommate and partner, Lance Twiggs, the alleged killer claimed the rifle was the only evidence he left behind, court documents show.
‘If I am able to grab my rifle unseen, I will have left no evidence. Going to attempt to retrieve it again, hopefully they have moved on,’ he allegedly wrote. ‘I haven’t seen anything about them finding it.’
Robinson also reportedly wrote about planning to get the weapon from his ‘drop point,’ but that the area was ‘locked down.’
‘I’m wishing I had circled back and grabbed it as soon as I got to my vehicle,’ he continued.
‘I’m worried what my old man would do if I didn’t bring back grandpas rifle… idek [I don’t even know] if it had a serial number, but it wouldn’t trace to me. I worry about prints I had to leave it in a bush where I changed outfits. didn’t have the ability or time to bring it with.
The alleged killer then expressed concern that his father would ask to see the gun.
‘I might have to abandon it and hope they don’t find prints. how the f*** will I explain losing it to my old man… only thing I left was the rifle wrapped in a towel,’ he wrote.
Robinson signed off the fateful text exchange by warning his partner Lance Twiggs to delete their messages, and said his father was trying to call him about his grandfather’s rifle.
He ultimately allegedly confessed to committing the murder to his father, who then contacted authorities and secured his son before he could be taken into custody.
Robinson’s arrest shocked his friends, who told the Washington Post that even though the accused murderer would ‘joke’ about Republican politicians ‘catching a bullet’ during drunk tirades, they saw no indication he was violent.
Those in his inner circle have identified him as having been radicalized by left-wing extremists, but claimed he provided no indication that he would kill Kirk.
‘He loved his guns, he loved his beer, he hated the government. That’s the impression that I got,’ a friend who regularly played card games with Robinson and his housemates told the Post.
The friend claimed that Robinson openly opposed Democrat and Republican politicians and though he was registered to vote, was not affiliated with any party.
Robinson is now due back in court on April 17, when his defense attorneys and prosecutors will debate the issue of allowing cameras and microphones in the courtroom.
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This Squad Member Called for Taxpayer-Funded Reparations for Illegal Immigrants
Progressive Congresswoman and member of The Squad, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), called for “some form of reparation” to be paid to illegal immigrants for the alleged “trauma” inflicted by ICE agents during President Trump’s nationwide deportation campaign.
It remains astonishing that Democrats label funding the Department of Homeland Security and its agencies as a waste of taxpayer dollars, yet have no issue using public funds to provide reparations to individuals who broke the law by entering the country illegally.
While the move is likely more posturing than a serious policy that could gain traction, it highlights where some progressive Democrats stand when it comes to representing their constituents. Representatives like Jayapal appear more interested in representing illegal immigrants than the tax-paying Americans who determine the direction of the country.
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