Overview

The Charlie Kirk Shooting at Utah Valley University, also known as the Assassination of Charlie Kirk, refers to the September 10th, 2025, fatal shooting of right-wing political commentator and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at a student event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. The shooting was caught on camera by several internet users who shared the viral videos on social media sites like Twitter / X and Reddit, among others. It appeared that Kirk had been shot in the neck, with graphic clips showing blood spurting from the injury immediately after. A suspect, an older white man, was reportedly taken into custody by police, who was also caught on camera in various videos. However, authorities later stated the man was not the shooter and that a suspect was still at large. On that day, viral reactions, memes and discourse about Charlie Kirk's death surfaced online. The following day, the FBI then said it recovered an "older-model Mauser 30-06 caliber high-powered bolt-action rifle" believed to be used by the shooter and also released images of a "person of interest" that depicted a man in a black long-sleeve shirt, sunglasses, a dark baseball cap and jeans. Engravings on bullet casings in the gun notably included numerous references to memes, such as Notices Bulge / OwO What's This? and "Hey fascist! Catch! up arrow, right arrow, three down arrows," a reference to the Eagle 500kg Bomb from the video game Helldivers 2. Two days later, on the morning of September 12th, investigators announced that the alleged shooter, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Utah, was in custody. In response to some of Charlie Kirk's detractors celebrating or mocking his death online, some Kirk fans began doxxing people who they found to be celebrating his death, resulting in numerous firings and wrongful accusations.

Background

On September 10th, 2025, Charlie Kirk hosted a debate in the Utah Valley University (UVU) Fountain Courtyard, and the event was set to start at 12 p.m. MDT, according to the UVU Review.^[1] Some students at UVU started a petition on Change.org^[2] to prevent Charlie Kirk from speaking at the university.

On that day, Charlie Kirk was suddenly shot during the debate at UVU, with a large crowd gathered around his tent at the event. According to the Salt Lake Tribune,^[3] the gunshot was heard when Kirk was being asked a question about gang violence and mass shootings.

A video of the shooting was widely circulated on social media sites like X and Reddit on September 10th.

For instance, X^[4] user @Rightanglenews shared a recording taken from far away in the crowd in which the gunshot is heard and Kirk is seen reaching for his neck, slumping over and falling to the ground as blood can be seen spurting from the entry point. The caption claimed that the shooter was a "Democrat," but the political affiliation of the assailant was not known at the time. The post gained over 5,900 likes in under an hour.

A closer angle was posted by X^[5] user @Uncensorednewsw on September 10th, receiving over 1.2 million views in less than an hour.

Initial Suspected Shooter and Retraction

According to the Salt Lake Tribune^[3] and other outlets like Reuters,^[6] an initial suspect was apprehended at the scene and taken into custody by police on September 10th, 2025.

A video immediately began circulating online, allegedly showing the suspect being handcuffed on his knees. The alleged gunman was a bald, older white man, wearing a blue shirt and pants.

X^[7] user @justin_hicken was one of the accounts to share the video early on, echoing the claim that he was "the man who shot Charlie Kirk." The post gained over 2.1 million views in less than an hour.

On that same day, X^[22] user @jacktronprime reposted the video, calling the man a "Baby Boomer Democrat" in the caption. The post gained over 1.7 million views in an hour and was deleted by the next day.

Another angle of the alleged shooter was posted by Instagram^[12] user @nova.reign.lioness on September 10th, 2025, in which he's seen with his pants around his ankles being escorted by police officers. A woman in the background his heard shouting, "How dare you!" The video received over 23,000 views in a few minutes and also went viral via reposts on X.^[13][14]

In the following hours, AP News^[20] reported that the individual, who had been taken into custody, was not the suspect. Later reports then stated that the shooting suspect was still at large as of 5:30 p.m. EST.^[21]

Alleged "Shooter On The Roof" Video

On September 10th, 2025, a video began circulating on social media, taken moments after Charlie Kirk was shot at UVU, in which a figure can be seen in the distance running across a roof. Notably, X^[29] user @FaytuksNetwork shared the video on that day, gaining over 1.8 million views in a day.

Another angle shows an individual running on the rooftop shortly after Charlie Kirk was killed. pic.twitter.com/koxLHOht1M

— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) September 10, 2025

Death Confirmation

Roughly an hour after the shooting took place, Charlie Kirk was pronounced dead at 31 years old, as reported by CNN^[17] and other outlets like Fox News.^[18]

U.S. President Donald Trump also shared a post announcing Kirk's death on Truth Social. ^[19] "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie," the post read. It gained over 35,500 likes in a few minutes.

Online Reactions

Politicians and other political pundits reacted to the shooting on social media soon after the event as it rapidly spread online that day.

For instance, on September 10th, 2025, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene reacted to the shooting on X,^[8] writing, "They just shot Charlie Kirk… I'm praying that he survives." The tweet received over 11,000 likes in a few minutes.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance also tweeted^[15] about Kirk, writing, "Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father." The tweet received over 268,000 likes in less than an hour.

Redditor Bobqee shared an article link about the shooting to the /r/news^[9] subreddit on September 10th, gaining over 8,800 upvotes in less than an hour.

The Instagram^[16] account @nojumper of the No Jumper podcast also spread the news in a post, receiving over 17,800 likes in less than an hour.

Some on X and other social media sites began joking about the shooting in viral posts and memes. For instance, on September 10th, 2025, X^[10] user @3xcalibaneur tweeted, "Shooting Charlie Kirk right under a 'PROVE ME WRONG' banner is a pretty funny rebuttal," receiving over 25,000 likes in under an hour.

On that same day, X^[11] user @M1das_OW2 tweeted the Mar Hospital Bed Instagram Live image, captioned, "Charlie Kirk," gaining over 26,000 likes in the same timeframe.

On September 10th, 2025, Instagram ^[30] user @ursrerrere, and three other accounts added as collaborators, shared a video that joked about Charlie Kirk being alive and well at a trampoline park, gaining over 63,900 likes in a day.

On September 10th, Redditor MrRoboto12345 shared an Impact font meme to the /r/okbuddyretard ^[34] subreddit, with text reading, "Listen Up Liberals / *Fucking Dies*." The post gained over 17,000 upvotes in a day.

Others expressed a belief that Kirk's death was a False Flag operation in order to distract the American public from President Trump's involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier that week, Jeffery Epstein's 50th Birthday Book was released by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which included a drawing allegedly from President Trump.^[37]

For instance, X^[33] user @dannylp0305 tweeted on September 10th, 2025, "Trump when he has to kill Charlie Kirk to stop people talking about Epstein," attaching the GIF of Wesley Snipes Crying. The tweet gained over 452,000 likes in a day.

Also that day, an edit using the Steven Crowder Change My Mind Campus Sign meme but replacing Crowder's head with Kirk garnered notable virality and search interest online. On the 10th, Instagram^[31] user @babayagabiscuits posted the meme with the sign changed to display a quote from Kirk that widely spread online at the time, receiving over 4,300 likes in 17 hours.

Throughout the day on September 10th, various subreddits began finding ways to circumvent the numerous removals of posts by mods and admins related to the shooting,^[43] many of which violated the site's guidelines. For instance, many Redditors posted music videos with songs related to the incident to the /r/Music^[42] subreddit throughout the day.

On September 11th, 2025, Comedy Central then pulled the South Park episode (titled "Got a Nut" from season 27, episode two) that aired roughly a month prior to the shooting, which parodied and mocked Charlie Kirk.^[32]

Various Reactions

Developments

Donald Trump's Eulogy Video

On September 10th, 2025, the official X^[26] account of U.S. President Donald Trump, @realDonaldTrump, shared a video of Trump addressing the nation about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The video received over 73.5 million views and 1 million likes in a day.

TO MY GREAT FELLOW AMERICANS… pic.twitter.com/oRsrE5TTHr

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2025

AI Video Speculation

In the replies and quote-tweets, many X users speculated that President Trump's eulogy video was AI-generated. For instance, on September 10th, 2025, X^[27] user @NebsGoodTakes quoted the video, writing, "The White House posting a blatant AI video with glitches they forgot to edit out, what a time to be alive," receiving over 137,000 likes in a day.

The supposed "glitch" in question was highlighted by X^[28] user @AmeriCossack in a September 10th reply to another quote-tweet of the President's video.

Bruh pic.twitter.com/1eG1LkUNNZ

— Tauric Norumbegan (@AmeriCossack) September 11, 2025

Boise, Idaho Vigil Brawl

On September 10th, 2025, a video out of Boise, Idaho, showing a vigil for Charlie Kirk outside the Idaho Capitol building, circulated online, showing a confrontation between people.^[38] X^[23] user @FerrinsThoughts notably shared the video on that day, gaining over 4.4 million views in a day.

According to @FerrinsThoughts, a person rode by the vigil on a scooter and yelled, "Fuck, Charlie Kirk." People can be heard chanting, "USA," as a brawl breaks out in the crowd.

Extended footage of a fight at the Idaho Capitol after a man drove through the vigil on a scooter yelling "F*** Charlie Kirk" pic.twitter.com/BlQIozYONL

— Ferrin (@FerrinsThoughts) September 11, 2025

Multiple internet users reacted to the clip, like X^[24] user @RoofKorean7 on September 10th, who quote-tweeted the video, writing, "This is only the beginning. For many, dialogue died with Charlie," receiving over 9,200 likes in a day.

The video of the brawl was also shared on the /r/CringeTikToks^[25] subreddit by Redditor NewSlinger, gaining over 8,700 upvotes in a day.

Initial FBI Press Conference

Early on September 11th, 2025, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials held a press conference on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which was shared on YouTube^[35] by FOX43 News, among other news outlets and publications.

Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason spoke first in the conference. He stated that the investigation had a few breakthroughs. "We do have good video footage of this individual," Mason said, identifying the shooter as "college-aged." Mason stated that the shooter took the shot from a roof and jumped off said roof to flee the scene, later entering a residential neighborhood.^[36]

Engravings Found On Bullet Casings / Weapon Found

On September 11th, 2025, the Wall Street Journal,^[39] among other outlets, reported that transgender and antifascist ideology was found inside the rifle that authorities believed was used in Charlie Kirk’s shooting, which was notably described as a "high-powered bolt-action rifle." WSJ's tweet^[40] on the development received over 1.1 million views in a few hours.

On September 11th, 2025, the NY Post^[44] shared an exclusive article about the gun recovered, which included an image of the rifle reported to be believed to be used by the shooter — an imported .30-06-caliber Mauser bolt-action rifle.

That same day, the photo of the weapon was reposted to the /r/guns^[45] subreddit, where Redditors discussed specifics of the hunting rifle, receiving over 1,200 upvotes and 840 comments in three hours.

According to reports on September 12th,^[46][47] messages found on the bullet casings included:

• "Notices Bulge / OwO What's This?"
• "Hey fascist! Catch! Up arrow symbol, right arrow symbol and three down arrow symbols" (a reference to the Eagle 500kg Bomb from Helldivers 2)
• "O Bella Ciao, Bella Ciao" (an Italian song dedicated to the Italian resistance fighting against the occupying troops of Nazi Germany)
• "If you read this you are gay lmao"

FBI Releases Images of "Person of Interest"

On September 11th, 2025, the official @FBISaltLakeCity X^[41] / Twitter account released images for the first time of a "person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk," asking for help from the public in identifying him. The tweet received over 551,000 views, 27,000 likes and 2,400 replies in 15 minutes.

Shooter Identified as Tyler Robinson

On the morning of September 12th, 2025, investigators announced that the alleged shooter was in custody and was identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Utah.^[48] According to reports,^[49] the suspect arrived on the university campus just before noon on September 10th. Robinson was not a student at UVU and was living with his family in Washington County prior to the event.

Internet Forum and Network CEOs Asked To Testify

On September 17th, 2025, a House committee reportedly asked the CEOs of Steam, Discord, Twitch and Reddit to testify at a hearing about the "radicalization of online forum users" on October 8th, 2025.^[50]

A letter sent by Republican Representative James Comer, chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee, to the four companies about the inquiry read:

In the wake of this tragedy, and amid other acts of politically motivated violence, Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence. The hearing will examine radicalization of online forum users, including incidents of open incitement to commit violent politically motivated acts.

Related Entries

Elder TikTok Video at Charlie Kirk Shooting

The Elder TikTok / Eldertiktok11 Video at Charlie Kirk Shooting refers to a controversial viral video posted by TikTok user Elder TikTok, also known as ElderTikTok, Eldertiktok11 or @eldertiktok11, that was taken moments after the Charlie Kirk Shooting at Utah Valley University (UVU) on September 10th, 2025. Elder TikTok was recording himself from the event as the crowd fled for safety around him. The TikToker is seen wearing a white T-shirt, sunglasses and a blue baseball cap. He's heard saying, "It's your boy, Elder TikTok," and he's seen smiling for the camera and gesturing with peace signs. The video amassed viral backlash on social media as it spread across platforms like Twitter / X via reposts. Many viewers believed that Elder TikTok's behavior was tone-deaf and that the video as a whole was dystopian. Some believed that it looked like a comedy sketch from comedian Conner O'Malley, as expressed in one of the viral reposts on X. Elder TikTok later deleted the video and apologized for his behavior.

this is, start to finish, the most Conner O'Malley video I have ever seen. pic.twitter.com/iGU0KdQnCR

— ratlimit (ratlimit) September 11, 2025

Etsy Witches Put Curse On Charlie Kirk Jezebel Article

An Etsy Witch or Etsy Witches refers to witches practicing the modern Wiccan religion who offer their services on the website Etsy to cast curses and spells on people for money. In September 2025, Jezebel published an article claiming that they cursed Charlie Kirk using Etsy witches only days before he was fatally shot at Utah Valley University, inspiring memes and discourse about Etsy witches following the incident.

Jschlatt's Death Predictions

Jschlatt's Death Predictions refers to memes and jokes that link Twitch streamer and YouTuber Jschlatt to a number of high-profile deaths after the year 2020. After Jschlatt made a post that hinted at Prince Philip's death months before his passing, his fans continued to draw links between his travels and posts and subsequent notable deaths like Queen Elizabeth's passing in 2022, and the death of Pope Francis in April 2025. In September 2025, notable conservative activist Charlie Kirk died after being shot at a school in Utah Valley on Jschlatt's birthday, prompting internet users to draw connections between Kirk's death and Jschlatt. Several internet users also shared posts supposedly confirming that Jschlatt was in Utah Valley for his birthday.

Soon after the news of Kirk's death was announced, X user @drishitposting created a fake Jschlatt tweet linking him to the death of conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk, who was killed at an event at Utah Valley University. The tweet read, "My birthday will be an interesting day for Charlie Kirk," and gathered over 2 million views and 130,000 likes in a day.

Charlie Kirk Critics Doxxing Campaigns

Charlie Kirk Critics Doxxing Campaigns refers to reported attempts by Charlie Kirk fans and supporters to dox, cancel and generally expose people who celebrate Charlie Kirk's death following his assassination. Incidents of attempts to dox Kirk critics and people mocking his killing started in the days following his September 10th, 2025, death. A website made to share evidence of people celebrating his death, CharliesMurderers.com, started going viral around September 12th, but was deleted. Other websites, including CancelTheHate.com and CharlieKirkData.org, were launched around the same time to share information on people who celebrated Kirk's death. The incidents gained widespread media attention, inspiring discourse and reactions online. Reportedly, several people were fired or suspended over claims that they celebrated Kirk's death, including Walmart IT tech Ali Nasrati, who claims to have never posted about Kirk. Additionally, the Steam group CharlieTweetsDetected was formed around the same timeframe, which tracks comments from video game developers that have purportedly mocked Kirk's death.

Search Interest

External References