Charlie Kirk Shooting Witnesses Describe Lax Security Measures At Event

Justin Hickens says he was opinionated astir 20 yards from Charlie Kirk arsenic nan influential blimpish activistic addressed a ample crowd astatine Utah Valley University connected Wednesday. Then, successful nan mediate of Kirk’s remarks, Hickens heard "a large big shot.”

“I saw a bunch of humor travel retired of Charlie," Hickens told NBC News’ Tom Llamas. "I saw his assemblage benignant of footwear backmost and spell limp, and everybody dropped to nan ground.”

When group realized Kirk had been shot, they started moving from nan outdoor pavilion area, immoderate knocking complete barricades arsenic they fled, Hickens said.

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Hickens is 1 of scores of group who had gathered to spot Kirk, a starring blimpish sound and salient state of President Donald Trump and who regularly holds events connected precocious schoolhouse and assemblage campuses.

People tally aft Kirk was changeable astatine Utah Valley University.Trent Nelson / The Salt Lake Tribune via Reuters

In videos and images posted connected societal media, attendees tin beryllium heard yelling and scrambling for safety. In interviews, students described proceeding a booming “pop” sound and seeing a bloodied Kirk autumn backmost successful his chair.

Kirk later died astatine a hospital. He was 31.

Tyler McGettigan, different attendee, told NBC News he was amazed that he wasn't asked to spell done information to get in.

The arena required a summons pinch a scannable code, which McGettigan printed retired and brought pinch him, he said successful an interview. But he did not request nan summons to get into nan amphitheater wherever Kirk spoke, McGettigan said.

“No 1 checked nan barcode aliases nan QR code. There was nary checkpoint to get in. It was literally, anyone could locomotion successful if they wanted,” McGettigan said.

Hickens and a 3rd attendee besides said location were nary metallic detectors posted outside.

Isaac, who did not supply his past name, told NBC News affiliate KSL that location were “no checkpoints, nothing, to get successful here.”

Isaac said nan segment wrong nan amphitheater was “surreal.” He said he saw humor “shooting out” of Kirk’s cervix arsenic attendees “hit nan floor.” He said he and his friends “bolted retired of there,” believing a wide shooting whitethorn person been underway.

Authorities do not person a fishy successful custody.

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