Charlie Kirk Shot and Killed Utah 09/10/25

[Lalalacasbah]

A short video analysis was just posted.

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/charlie-kirk-shot-utah-09-10-25?t=1757570336872

Thanks for that! Description of shooter had black vest. Are we thinking he had on a bullet proof vest?

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Thanks as well for great answers to my question about shooting skill set for this killer @Ghostwheel @KBlackRabbit and @EncyclopediaBrownJr

 

[OddOneOut]

Imo, that depends. Hitting the target from that distance makes it a good shot because Charlie Kirk was a constantly moving individual, but not a sniper quality shot unless the goal was to actually hit Charlie in the neck, as if to silence him. In that case, we're that the intention, this was a next level sniper.

But if you ever watched any of his talks, he picked up water at random times, tipped his head forward, leaned forward to pick up a mic or put it down Just before the shot, he raised his hand lowered his head and touched his nose. Constantly moving. I think if it wasn't specifically a neck shot, it was set for the chest and he moved. Makes it so that it could be any kind of good shooter, not necessarily a pro if that was the case. Totally IMO.

JMO since I don't have the original post.

I recall someone posting on this thread that Charlie was hit in the chest and the bullet was deflected to his neck. They didn't say but I assume Charlie must have been wearing a bullet proof vest for this to happen.

I'm waiting for the LE report to find out.

 

[MassGuy]

JMO since I don't have the original post.

I recall someone posting on this thread that Charlie was hit in the chest and the bullet was deflected to his neck. They didn't say but I assume Charlie must have been wearing a bullet proof vest for this to happen.

I'm waiting for the LE report to find out.

That's just really not a thing. A high powered rifle round would cut through a vest like a hot knife through butter. He caught that bullet square in the neck.

 

[Ghostwheel]

JMO since I don't have the original post.

I recall someone posting on this thread that Charlie was hit in the chest and the bullet was deflected to his neck. They didn't say but I assume Charlie must have been wearing a bullet proof vest for this to happen.

I'm waiting for the LE report to find out.

Well, that would be interesting to find out. I'll wait with you.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

This guy could have been prior military, maybe not. Could have been a hunter, or maybe not. Maybe just a shooter for sport. Who knows but that lack of a head shot on a sitting target makes me believe this was not a trained shooter but just a competent enough shooter.

On the other hand, Trump survived his assassination attempt because he turned his head slightly at the critical moment. Heads move, necks less so. Maybe this was a lesson learned.

 

[branmuffin]

When did fall classes officially start at this campus? Is there a period where potential attendees can preview the school and its environment before starting classes? Is it possible that the shooter attended some type of orientation session that the school offers to familiarize the students as to the services, activities and layout of the campus?

Charlie Kirk must have a posted itinerary of where he was making appearances. I know this university was the first stop of his itinerary. Does anyone know when his itinerary was posted?

[Mod snip political]
I'd also like to know when normally CK debated he stood or sat like he did yesterday in Utah. I thought the debate format was a bit odd. He wasn't really debating he just answered questions in a flippant manner. After he answered he seemed to put the mic down. Which meant he had to lean forward again to pick up the mic. It would have taken less than a second for that bullet to reach Kirk from 200 yards.

 

[Ghostwheel]

That's just really not a thing. A high powered rifle round would cut through a vest like a hot knife through butter. He caught that bullet square in the neck.

Throwing this out there. If wearing a vest with plate pockets and ceramic or steel plates, certain types of ammo could shatter and result in neck injuries severe enough. We will definitely have to wait for results. I could see a brown strap under the t-shirt at the neckline, which could have been a level IIIA vest.

 

[Lucy.D]

I wonder how the shooter got up and down from the roof evidently without being seen.
I suppose he left the murder weapon on the roof and it's been found by now.
The other thing is letting it be known LE had detained a possible suspect. More time for the actual suspect to disappear.

<modsnip: general gun control discussion is not allowed>

 

[EncyclopediaBrownJr]

On the other hand, Trump survived his assassination attempt because he turned his head slightly at the critical moment. Heads move, necks less so. Maybe this was a lesson learned.

The other poster subsequently mentioned that snipers aim for center mass. He's right. I stand corrected.

In any case, 200 yards is a layup for a competent shooter. Somebody who just happens to have a rifle and shoots occasionally or somebody that bought a rifle recently with the intent to carry this assassination out, it would be a big leap for me to believe them as having the skill to be successful with this type of shooting. At the very least, this guy is very competent, goes to the range regularly or consistently hunts. He's worked on his breathing techniques and is poised enough to get the shot off knowing he's going to be the facilitator of a major news event.

You give guys like LHO or a Charles Whitman a rifle and post them on the same building 200 yards away and I'm willing to bet my life that they are making that shot. You give a hunter the same opportunity and they're making that shot. Whoever did this didn't just decide on a whim days before to go to a gun store to buy a rifle with intent to do this. This was a guy who had his rifle for awhile, trains with it and planned this shooting meticulously.

Now, like I said, if we're weeks into this without an arrest, then I'm thinking this is a high level shooter who was able to ingress and egress without any kind of digital footprint. It will be fascinating to see how this plays out.

 

[Elley Mae]

Could have been someone that works there to know the layout of the buildings and being able to get on and off the roof with ease. There’s a parking lot behind the building the shooter was on and the building to the right is UVU police.

 

[KBlackRabbit]

That's just really not a thing. A high powered rifle round would cut through a vest like a hot knife through butter. He caught that bullet square in the neck.

Agree. The force of it caused his shirt to bounce up but that was a neck hit. You can see the bullet hole in his shirt just below the collar which was on his neck.

 

[EncyclopediaBrownJr]

Could have been someone that works there to know the layout of the buildings and being able to get on and off the roof with ease. There’s a parking lot behind the building the shooter was on and the building to the right is UVU police.

Didn’t realize there was a police station nearby. Talk about brazen. Sheesh.

 

[NuttMegg]

Dbm

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1966029365373710440

"An elderly man, who has since been identified as 71-year-old George Zinn, was seen being hauled away by cops in the immediate aftermath after allegedly claiming he had fired the fatal shot.

But authorities soon determined that he was not involved in the assassination, and later confirmed that another man they had taken into custody was not the shooter either."

 

[Marantz4250b]

He had his own security team, which is designed to stop the typical assassination attempts we see (gunman at close range). I am surprised there apparently wasn't more campus security there, but that's not going to stop a sniper at a distance.

Exactly. I've never heard of this guy but it appears that he wasn't any kind politician or public official so it's hard to imagine that he'd have any kind of significant security. If a random kid can take a shot at Trump then anyone can take a pop at anyone.

It's essentially impossible to protect against this sort of thing. Any normal run-of-the-mill sporting/hunting/target rifle could have been used for that and that's been the case for at least 150 years.

That was a fairly easy shot. In my estimation the shooter is competent but likely not professionally trained. He was probably trying for a head shot but it landed slightly low.

It will be interesting to discover the shooter's motivations when it eventually all comes out.

 

[BreakingNews]

This has hit the Australian news. We have gun laws here, so I am in awe of all the gun knowledge.

 

[Dotta]

Exactly. I've never heard of this guy but it appears that he wasn't any kind politician or public official so it's hard to imagine that he'd have any kind of significant security. If a random kid can take a shot at Trump then anyone can take a pop at anyone.

It's essentially impossible to protect against this sort of thing. Any normal run-of-the-mill sporting/hunting/target rifle could have been used for that and that's been the case for at least 150 years.

That was a fairly easy shot. In my estimation the shooter is competent but likely not professionally trained. He was probably trying for a head shot but it landed slightly low.

It will be interesting to discover the shooter's motivations when it eventually all comes out.

I thought
maybe drones could be used to check nearby roofs during such events though, no?

I'm still thinking about this elderly man dragged by Police
(who allegedly claimed he had fired the fatal shot).
Obviously MH issues, this is horrific.
His family must be aghast

I'm quite pessimistic that the shooter will be caught - so much vital time has passed.
I bet the shooter was well prepared how to escape.
That he shot only once and it proved fatal for the victim
is mind boggling to me.

This shooting reminds me of infamous attack on President DT.

My thoughts are with the poor family of the victim.
What a tragedy

JMO

 

[Marantz4250b]

I thought
maybe drones could be used to check nearby roofs during such events though, no?

I'm still thinking about this elderly man dragged by Police
(who allegedly claimed he had fired the fatal shot).
Obviously MH issues, this is horrific.
His family must be aghast

I'm quite pessimistic that the shooter will be caught - so much vital time has passed.
I bet the shooter was well prepared how to escape.
That he shot only once and it proved fatal for the victim
is mind boggling to me.

This tragedy reminds me of infamous attack on President DT.

My thoughts are with the poor family of the victim.
What a tragedy

JMO

Thing is that you can fly drones around for hours before and see nothing. It takes someone seconds to produce a rifle and fire a shot. Any half competent person could have made that shot. I haven't seen the videos but it looked very easy from the aerial pictures. There's essentially nothing you can do to stop someone poking a rifle out of a window or clambering onto a roof and taking a shot at someone at potentially a great distance.

As you mentioned, it's basically the same as the attempt on Trump.

On the bolded point - to me it's entirely understandable and completely expected. I'm amazed that Trump's shooter missed him, tbh. Both of these people seem to be of a similar mindset - attention seekers, as they, IMO, were going for head shots to make something look spectacular (and utterly horrific). If they simply wanted the victims dead with as much certainty as possible they wouldn't have done that. They'd have taken chest shots.

 

[CalliopeMuse]

[...]
I'm still thinking about this elderly man dragged by Police
(who allegedly claimed he had fired the fatal shot).
Obviously MH issues, this is horrific.
His family must be aghast
[...]

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the 'elderly man' is apparently well known in the state, for attending all kinds of events and frequently causing disruptions. He apparently has done this for years, and has been arrested numerous times.

Everyone needs a hobby, as the expression goes. He's lucky that no one in the crowd tried to 'subdue' him. [moo]