US3 min(s) read
Published 12:32 01 Apr 2026 GMT
Ballistics expert reveals real reason bullet used to kill Charlie Kirk did not match weapon
A ballistics expert has shared the real reason why the bullet used to kill Charlie Kirk did not match the weapon.
Tyler Robinson is facing capital murder charges and a potential death sentence after the late Turning Point USA founder was fatally shot during a September 2025 event at Utah Valley University.
It was recently reported that an initial ballistic analysis conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) failed to link the bullet recovered from Kirk's body to the Mauser 98 bolt-action rifle found at the crime scene, a weapon reportedly belonging to Robinson’s grandfather.
Ballistics Expert Explains Bullet Fragment Issues
The firearm was a key piece of evidence, but the failure to link the bullet to it casts doubt on the strength of the prosecution's case and delays trial proceedings.
Steven Howard, a ballistics expert, clarified that this is not uncommon in murder investigations, especially when rifles are involved.
"Rifles have so much velocity and therefore so much energy, that the bullets a lot of times damage themselves to the point that you can't realistically match them up because they're so damaged," he explained to Daily Mail.
"You can say, OK, it's from this type of weapon because it's got the right number of lands and grooves, and they're basically the right width, it's the right caliber.
"But after that, the bullet's so damaged you can't really line things up in a ballistic comparison microscope and match it," he added.
Howard also shared that high-velocity projectiles, like those fired from rifles, carry more energy than handgun bullets.
This can cause the ammunition to fragment upon impact with soft tissue, bone, or muscle, making a ballistic match challenging.
"It's very foreseeable, under circumstances like this, simply that the case of the bullet is damaged so much they can't conclusively match it," he said.
"But the question then becomes, OK, if the rifle (is linked) to him, it's the right caliber, it's got the right lands at grooves, he was seen there, I mean, OK, there's really somebody else? So ballistics is just one part of the case."
Defense Strategy and Delays in Proceedings
Robinson's defense team has contended that the bullet's inability to be matched to the rifle could help clear their client.
They are pushing to have evidence related to the firearm excluded before trial, which could delay proceedings.
Per experts, if the bullet cannot be eliminated as coming from the accused assassin's rifle, it remains evidence that still leans toward his guilt.
Additionally, the defense is requesting more time to examine a massive volume of evidence provided by prosecutors, including over 20,000 files containing DNA and forensic data.
They have asked for consultations with forensic biologists and geneticists to properly look at this information. This delay could stretch the trial out by months.
Robinson is due back in court on April 17 for a hearing on a defense motion to ban cameras from the courtroom.