Truth About Wild Conspiracy Theories Swirling Around Charlie Kirk's Assassination — From Killer's 'Escape Jet' to Duo's 'Secret Hand Signals Before Shooting'
Conspiracy theories swirled around Charlie Kirk's assassination, from escape jet to secret hand signals.
Sept. 12 2025, Published 3:26 p.m. ET
In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination at Utah Valley University, wild conspiracy theories have flooded the Internet, including claims a private jet took off from a nearby airport just an hour after the shooting and vanished – and RadarOnline.com can reveal the truth behind the "mysteries."
Some have speculated Kirk's killer used the jet to make a swift escape, but the owner of the plane has since quashed these baseless claims, insisting the flight's disappearance was routine.
Meanwhile, footage of Kirk's bodyguards making hand gestures moments before the shooting has fueled further speculation about secret signals and hidden motives shrouding the execution of the right-wing idol.
Social Media Scrutiny Follows Tragic Attack
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a speech at Utah Valley University.
On Wednesday, September 10, Kirk, 31, a prominent conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, was delivering a speech to a right-wing audience when he was struck by a sniper's bullet from a rooftop across the campus.
The shooter fired from over 200 yards away, striking Kirk in the neck.
Kirk was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead hours later.
By Thursday morning, social media sleuths had spotted a private jet, registered as N888KG, leaving Provo Airport just miles away from the university around the same time as the attack.
The plane's sudden disappearance from radar led some to theorize that it might have been the assassin's escape route.
Derek Maxfield, the businessman who owns the jet, moved quickly to refute any connection between his aircraft and Kirk's murder.
Jet Owner Denies Link to Assassination
FBI released images of a person of interest in the assassination.
Maxfield explained the jet had followed normal flight protocol and had not been involved in the assassination.
"As often happens after public tragedies, baseless theories begin to circulate, and unfortunately, my family has been caught up in these," Maxfield said.
He clarified the jet had taken off at 1.20pm MT for a short flight to Arizona, with no passengers on board, and had later returned to Provo by 3.15pm.
"Any suggestion that this flight is connected to Mr. Kirk's death is inaccurate, false, and without merit," Maxfield stated. "We pray for his family and hope that law enforcement brings the person responsible to justice."
While the jet speculation has been debunked, another controversy has emerged surrounding footage of Kirk's bodyguards before the shooting.
Video of the movements, which has gone viral, shows two members of his security detail making what some have described as "secret hand signals" moments before the attack.
Veteran Official Analyzes Campus Footage
Security expert Stan Kephart calls the gestures standard protocol.
One bodyguard adjusts his cap while holding a phone, while another appears to scan the crowd. This has led to rampant theories about covert communications with the killer.
But Stan Kephart, 85, a veteran law enforcement expert with experience in Olympic security and high-profile event safety, dismissed such theories when he weighed in on the footage.
Kephart, who was not involved in the incident, confirmed the gestures were most likely part of standard security protocol.
"I can tell you from experience – those were definitely hand signals. The way they were done was not casual. It was more than one signal," Kephart explained.
"But my suspicion is that he's checking in with someone else, perhaps a supervisor, confirming everything is okay."
He added in a situation like this, if there were a real threat, security would rely on communication systems rather than hand signals.
While conspiracy theories swirl around the bodyguards' actions, the shooting itself has raised serious questions about the level of security provided to Kirk.
Unlike elected officials, who receive federal protection, Kirk was left with a small private security team.
Kirk's Death Highlights Growing Political Violence in the U.S.
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The suspect's father 'turned him in' late Thursday night.
Kephart noted only six campus police officers were on duty at the time of the attack, a number he deemed insufficient for a crowd of over 2,000. Without federal resources such as rooftop surveillance or shot-spotter technology, Kirk was at a clear disadvantage, experts say.
The investigation into Kirk’s assassination is ongoing.
FBI officials released grainy images of a person of interest – a black-clad individual wearing sunglasses and a cap emblazoned with an eagle.
And on Thursday, Donald Trump announced a suspect named Tyler Robinson had been taken into custody – after being turned in by his dad.
Kephart believes the investigation will be thorough and said: "The Bureau's investigation will be a deep dive."
Kirk's death is the latest in a string of politically motivated attacks in the U.S., underscoring the rising tide of political violence.
Despite the conspiracy theories, authorities are urging the public to focus on the investigation rather than speculation.
