Charlie Kirk Shooting Tragedy: Witnesses Claim Security at Utah Event Was 'Weak' — Lack of Metal Detectors and 'No Checkpoints'
Charlie Kirk's death has now put security in the spotlight.
Sept. 10 2025, Published 7:15 p.m. ET
The death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has rocked the nation, as witnesses to the shooting claim security at the Utah event failed, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
The 31-year-old was speaking at the Utah Valley University courtyard for his American Comeback Tour when he was shot in the neck.
Did The Security Team Fail?
Kirk is pictured before he would be shot dead.
Videos of the shooting spread on social media, showing the crowd at the university screaming and taking cover following the shooting. Attendees are now claiming security was lax; one person, Tyler McGettigan, told NBC News he did not have to go through security before the event.
According to McGettigan, while he printed out a ticket, he was not asked for it to enter the event.
"No one checked the barcode or the QR code," he claimed. "There was no checkpoint to get in. It was literally, anyone could walk in if they wanted."
Another attendee, Justin Hickens, also claimed there were no metal detectors posted outside, and another person added there were "no checkpoints, nothing, to get in here."
Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking on stage at the Utah event, where witnesses claimed the security was lax.
Afton Miller, a member of Turning Point USA, Kirk's conservative political organization, also noted there didn't seem to be “a whole lot of security."
According to Miller, she and a friend were able to "just walk in," and what appeared to be a school official told them, "go find a seat, first-come, first-served basis."
On Wednesday, September 10, Kirk was captured getting shot in the neck while responding to questions from the crowd. He was answering a question about transgender mass shootings moments before the incident occurred.
"Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?" someone asked the right-wing activist.
President Trump confirmed the death of the conservative activist on Truth Social, calling him a 'legend.'
"Too many," Kirk responded. The questioner then asked Kirk how many mass shooters there had been in the U.S. in the past decade.
"Counting or not counting gang violence," the conservative's last words were before the bullet pierced his neck, and he fell to the side. Disturbing footage showed blood gushing out of Kirk's neck.
He was rushed to a hospital in Orem, Utah, where he was pronounced dead.
After a brief manhunt, the suspect behind the shooting was in custody, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
'A Political Assassination'
Kirk had been responding to a question about transgender mass shootings when he was shot.
"The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody," Patel wrote on X. "Thank you to the local and state authorities in Utah for your partnership with the FBI."
While a motive behind the shooting has yet to be confirmed, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox labeled it "a political assassination" during a press conference.
Adding to Patel's statement, Cox said, "a person of interest in custody that is being interviewed right now."
Following Kirk's death, President Trump took to Truth Social to confirm the news: "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. 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!"
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The Country Reacts To The Shooting
Other political notables reacted to the shooting, as former vice president and presidential candidate Kamala Harris said: "I am deeply disturbed by the shooting in Utah. Doug and I send our prayers to Charlie Kirk and his family. Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence."
Meanwhile, Trump's rival, Gavin Newsom, raged: "The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form."
Former President Barack Obama also reacted on X: "We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children."
