A top security expert has claimed that conservative activist Charlie Kirk ignored a dire warning that he was in “grave danger of being shot and killed” by a “sniper” who would “go for a headshot” at an upcoming event.
Despite the urgent nature of the alert, Kirk allegedly chose not to follow the safety advice – a decision that cost him his life.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. Kirk was addressing a crowd as part of his “American Comeback Tour” when he was fatally struck in the neck by a single bullet. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he later died from his injuries.
Multiple news outlets report that the shooting occurred around 12:20 p.m. during an outdoor “Prove Me Wrong” debate session, where students are invited to challenge Kirk’s political and cultural views.
Last words
One of the students approached the microphone and asked him: “Do you know many transgender Americans have been shooters over the last 10 years?” the individual asked.
Kirk responded confidently, “Too many,” as the crowd erupted in applause.
When the same person insisted the number was five and asked about total mass shooters over the past decade, Kirk replied, “Counting or not counting gang violence?” These were his final words, according to Daily Mail.
Moments later, a single gunshot rang out, striking Kirk in the neck.
Panic swept through the crowd as Charlie Kirk collapsed in his chair, blood pouring from his neck, and chaos erupted across the venue.
“We heard a big loud shot, I saw a bunch of blood come out of Charlie, I saw his body kind of kick back and go limp, and everybody dropped to the ground,” Justin Hickens, who was approximately 60 feet from the shooting, told NBC News.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment, local authorities confirmed that the right-wing political activist died of his injuries approximately 90 minutes after the shooting.
Reuters reports that an intense manhunt is underway as police and federal agents search for the sniper who fatally shot the conservative commentator, who leaves behind his wife, Erika Frantzve, their three-year-old daughter, and a 16-month-old son.
No security checks
In the wake of the tragedy, multiple witnesses have come forward to describe the lack of basic security at the event. Although attendees were required to register for tickets, several said no one actually scanned or checked them at the entrance.
“I was expecting when I got here that I’d have to pass through some kind of security, but that just wasn’t a thing,” Tyler McGettigan, an attendee, told NBC News. “No one checked the barcode or the QR code. There was no checkpoint to get in. It was literally anyone could walk in if they wanted.”
Hickens, who earlier described the chaos in the crowd after the shot was fired, also told NBC there were no metal detectors and only a few security personnel stationed near Kirk.
Raydon Dechene, another attendee, echoed those concerns in an interview with CNN, Kasie Hunt, saying bags weren’t checked and “it just felt off.”
Given Kirk’s high-profile status and polarizing public presence, many have questioned how such an event could have been held with such minimal security precautions.
Expert warned of deadly threat
Perhaps even more disturbing is the revelation that Kirk had been warned months earlier that his safety at public events was severely at risk.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Kris Herzog, a well-known security expert and owner of The Bodyguard Group of Beverly Hills, said he personally met with Kirk during a March 6 rally at California State University. At that time, Herzog warned Kirk that he would “100% be killed at one of his upcoming university speaking events” unless he significantly upgraded his security measures.
Advised measures to prevent attack
Herzog, whose firm has worked with celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Sharon Stone, had recommended that Kirk implement a series of measures to prevent an attack. These included using B7-level ballistic bulletproof glass panels to shield the stage, employing metal detectors and handheld wands to screen attendees within 700 feet of the speaker, and hiring off-duty police officers to secure elevated areas and potential sniper positions.
“I told him that a sniper would probably go for a headshot, which means it was of critical importance to have the ballistic glass,” Herzog said of his warning to the MAGA leader.
“Everyone in my group felt that his security was not even close to what it should be, and he was in grave danger of being shot and killed at one of his upcoming events.”
Another security specialist, Mark Wilson, who was present at the March rally, noted Kirk’s habit of standing close to crowds and said he rarely, if ever, wore a bulletproof vest.
“It’s super sad what has happened,” Wilson told the Daily Mail.
“Sadly, he never got back to me and now my prediction of his murder has come true,” Herzog added.
Legendary Charlie Kirk
President Donald Trump shared a message on Truth Social, announcing that “In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot,” American flags will be lowered to half-mast until Sunday evening.
In an earlier message, Trump shared a tribute to the activist who he called “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk.”
“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!” he wrote on Truth Social, hours after Kirk had died.
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