Charlie Kirk's tragic death on Wednesday has been shocking, to say the least. The 31-year-old conservative influencer was fatally shot at an event at Utah Valley College, in front of thousands of attendees, in what the Governor of Utah described as a "political assassination."
The shock element of the incident, which happened in broad daylight, in front of a gaping audience, was captured on video. The exact moment when Charlie Krik was shot was recorded and streamed live on social media - making it one of the most high-profile assassinations in recent times.
The way Kirk dies in the video has sparked questions around the nature of his death. Although authorities have not yet released the autopsy report on Kirk's death, which would likely reveal the time of his death, a lot of interest in whether the Turning Point USA founder died instantly after being shot was expressed on social media.
Why Internet Thinks Charlie Kirk Died ‘Instantly’
In the graphic video, Krik can be seen responding to a question on gun violence when a bullet hits him on the neck. Blood spills out, his eyes close, and he falls off his seat, giving the impression that he died instantly. He was taken to a hospital before President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Charlie Kirk had died.
{{/usCountry}}In the graphic video, Krik can be seen responding to a question on gun violence when a bullet hits him on the neck. Blood spills out, his eyes close, and he falls off his seat, giving the impression that he died instantly. He was taken to a hospital before President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Charlie Kirk had died.
{{/usCountry}}“I just saw a graphic angle of Charlie Kirk. Yeah I’m 100% certain he died instantly.. What in the actual f***,” one user said.
“Charlie Kirk died almost instantly based on his reaction from the shot. The bullet hit a jugular vein & it also looked like there was a spinal sever of some sorts. The video was not AI, that's just how it looks,” said another.
“Anybody who watched the video knows that Charlie Kirk died instantly. So much misinformation on the timeline,” wrote another.
“The close up video of Charlie Kirk’s assassination is brutal, I suggest to anyone not to watch it. If I can take any solice out of it, it’s that he died instantly. No pain,” said one.
Also read: Charlie Kirk’s daughter’s joyful hug in week-old video now a tragic memory on X
Krik, who was from Arizona, was a close ally of Donald Trump, and his rise has been contiguous with that of Trump. Kirk first broke into the conservative circles with his appearance at the 2016 Republican National Convention, where Trump was nominated as the candidate. Trump has called him a beacon of the conservative movement, especially among the youth.
Upon his death, Trump wrote: "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!”