A man who appeared to be cheering in video captured moments after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot in Orem, Utah, took to social media to offer an explanation for his actions as critics and some users urged federal investigators to question him.
In footage circulating online from Wednesday’s attack at Utah Valley University, a bearded man later identified only by his first name, David, was seen smiling, pumping his fists and appearing to cheer as people around him ducked and fled. An X user who says he is the man in the clip wrote that he "drew attention so the security team could escape," a claim that prompted skepticism and condemnation from many on the platform. Daily Mail reported contacting the account but said it could not independently verify the user’s identity.
In posts on X, the account that claimed to be David said he felt the loss of Kirk, who leaves a wife and two children, and said he too is a father. He added that he would wait "some time" before fully addressing his response to the shooting and asked for privacy because he feared threats to his family. In one reply he described his actions as "dumb" but said he did not regret them. Several commenters tagged federal authorities and urged a formal inquiry; others called the behavior "cowardly" and questioned whether the brief clip captured the full context.
Authorities have released images of a person of interest in the shooting and appealed to the public for assistance. Law enforcement described a shooter dressed "all in black," wearing aviator-style sunglasses and carrying a long firearm who opened fire from a rooftop at the Losee Center on the Utah Valley University campus during a midday event. Investigators said the gunman fired a single shot from the roof, vanishing after jumping off and fleeing through nearby woods.
Officials recovered what they described as a Mauser .30-caliber bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel along a suspected escape route and found a spent cartridge in the weapon's chamber; three additional rounds were believed to remain in the magazine. Investigators also reported discovering a palm print and a shoe impression near the scene. The firearm and ammunition have been sent to a federal lab for forensic analysis. The FBI has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and released photos of a person of interest wearing a hat, sunglasses and a patriotic black T-shirt.
Kirk, 31, was speaking at a university event of roughly 3,000 people when he was struck in the neck and collapsed. Bystander video shows attendees screaming and running as the crowd dispersed. Kirk was transported to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries. He is survived by his wife, Erika, and two children.
Political leaders across the spectrum condemned the violence. Former President Donald Trump said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife planned to visit Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City, according to statements from their offices.
As the probe continues, authorities and social media platforms face growing demands for clarity about the people captured in video from the scene. The individual who claimed responsibility for the cheering has said he will speak publicly at a later time, but news organizations and law enforcement have not independently confirmed his identity. The FBI encouraged anyone with information about the shooter or the person of interest to come forward as the investigation proceeds.