Attendees at the campus event where US conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot have described mass panic following the sound of gunfire. Kirk, 31, was killed by a single bullet to the neck, reportedly fired by a shooter on a nearby building. He had been speaking to approximately 3,000 people during his American Comeback Tour at Utah Valley University when the incident occurred.
Eyewitnesses recounted horrible moments after the shot rang out. One student, Porter LaFerber, stated he was about 50 feet from Kirk when he heard a loud bang and watched as the influencer fell off his stool. Another attendee, Danielle, described a scene of terror, pleading for safety as the crowd erupted into chaos.
Former Congressman Jason Chaffetz, also present at the event, described how everyone immediately hit the ground and quickly scattered in different directions. Reports revealed that the shooter was likely positioned between 100 to 200 yards from the stage where Kirk was speaking.
As videos circulated on social media, revealing Kirk speaking on gun violence moments before his tragic death, discussions about event security arose. Many attendees noted the lack of proper security measures, raising alarms about future events at the university.
In the aftermath, Phil Lyman, a former Utah state representative and friend of Kirk's, remarked on the traumatic experience for those who witnessed the shooting, stating, '3,000 kids basically watched somebody shot right in front of them.' Eyewitness Emma Pitts emphasized the lasting impact of the traumatic event, stating, 'I'll never get the image out of my head.'
