“I’ve never seen a shirt move like that, that looks like an explosion to me,” O’Neill said.
Drawing on his experience in military operations, O’Neill explained that the movement seen in the video did not appear consistent with what he expected from a rifle impact. At the same time, he stressed that his comments should not be interpreted as an accusation against law enforcement or as evidence that the suspect had been wrongly identified.
He also acknowledged that Tyler Robinson could still be responsible for the shooting.
Rather than questioning the identity of the suspect, O’Neill said he was raising a much narrower issue: whether the physical evidence visible in the video matches investigators’ conclusions.
Beyond the apparent wound itself, O’Neill said another part of the footage has remained in his mind.
According to his account, some people near the scene appeared to be more concerned with removing SIM cards from recording devices than immediately trying to assist Kirk.
That sequence, he said, struck him as unusual.
Months after the incident, O’Neill told Newsmax he still finds it difficult to reconcile what he observed on the recording with what he experienced during real-world combat situations.
Questions surrounding the investigation have also been fueled by an ongoing public dispute involving people who were once close to Charlie Kirk.
Candace Owens has repeatedly challenged elements of the official narrative and has publicly criticized Kirk’s widow over how events following his death were handled.
Reports indicate that the two women participated in a private meeting arranged by Megyn Kelly in an effort to resolve their differences. While that discussion reportedly produced a temporary truce, tensions resurfaced weeks later after Owens released audio recordings that she claimed were significant to the controversy.
The disagreement intensified again this week, with Owens accusing Kirk’s widow of turning the tragedy into her own “personal coronation.”
In response, Kirk’s widow released a video addressing what she described as repeated false claims circulating about her.
Earlier in the controversy, when asked what message she would give Owens, she responded with a brief statement.
“Stop,” she said. “That’s it. That’s all I have to say. Stop.”
Owens has also advanced additional theories regarding the circumstances surrounding the case, allegations that supporters of Turning Point USA have publicly rejected.
While public commentary continues, the legal proceedings have steadily advanced inside the courtroom.
During several days of hearings in Provo, prosecutors presented what they described as substantial evidence supporting their case against Tyler Robinson.
According to court proceedings, prosecutors introduced surveillance footage from the university campus, a rifle, a screwdriver, and electronic messages that they characterize as a confession.
Robinson currently faces six felony charges, including aggravated murder. Court records indicate that he has not entered a plea.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, and Judge Tony Graf is expected to determine whether the case proceeds to trial.
O’Neill has repeatedly emphasized that he is not declaring Robinson innocent or accusing investigators of orchestrating a cover-up.
Instead, he argues that one technical question deserves a direct answer.
“He asked one narrow thing: does the movement and wound on that tape match a rifle round, yes or no.”
Supporters of O’Neill argue that experienced observers should be willing to examine the footage and publicly address his concerns. Others maintain that the criminal justice process—not television interviews or online speculation—should determine the facts of the case.
As court proceedings continue, both the legal evidence and the public debate are likely to remain under close scrutiny. Whether O’Neill’s observations ultimately influence broader discussion remains uncertain, but his comments have unquestionably renewed interest in one of the most closely watched criminal cases in recent memory.
