Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative commentator, Trump ally and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was tragically shot dead on Wednesday during a live event at Utah Valley University.
His final words, “Counting or not counting gang violence?” were spoken just moments before a sniper’s bullet struck him leading to his death.
What were Charlie Kirk’s last words?
Kirk was answering questions from the audience when the fatal shot rang out. The exchange began when a questioner asked, “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?”
Kirk replied, “Too many.”
The next question, “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?.”
He responded, “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Seconds later, he was shot in the neck.
Video footage shows him clutching his neck as blood came out from his wound, while panicked students fled the scene. He was rushed to the hospital but died shortly afterward.
As news of his death spread, some began speculating that the shooting could have been politically motivated.
The timing of his final words, discussing gun violence, led some to suggest that Kirk’s assassination may have been orchestrated in response to his controversial political stance.
Charlie Kirk’s controversial views on gun violence
Kirk’s death has reignited discussions about his controversial views. He was known for his outspoken defense of gun rights, he once made a statement that became widely debated.
In 2023, he said, “You will never live in a society with an armed citizenry and not have a single gun death. That is nonsense. It’s drivel. But I think it’s worth it.
I think it’s worth having a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”