Fact Check: Were Charlie Kirk’s last words ‘counting or not counting gang violence'?

OREM, UTAH: After Charlie Kirk's death, a wave of videos and unverified claims from his “America Comeback Tour” flooded social media, with one particular claim going viral.

According to several widely shared posts on X, Kirk’s alleged final words were a defense of gun rights, reportedly asking, “Counting or not counting gang violence?”

The claim has sparked heated debate and speculation online. But is it true? Read on as we examine the facts and uncover whether there’s any credible evidence behind this circulating claim. 

Claim: Charlie Kirk’s last words include, ‘gang violence'

Just moments before being shot in the neck, Charlie Kirk was speaking before a crowd of 3,000 at an event hosted by Utah Valley University. During the final moments of the event, part of his America Comeback Tour, Kirk was engaged in a debate about mass shootings with an attendee.

This response has gone viral across social media, with many claiming these were Kirk’s final words. 

Fact Check: True, Charlie Kirk's last words did reference ‘gang violence’

According to a review by Snopes, multiple videos taken from different angles confirm that Kirk did, in fact, make the gang violence remark before he was shot. 

As the exchange unfolded, the attendee asked, “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” Kirk responded, “Too many,” prompting applause from the audience. The attendee followed up with, “In America, it's five. Now, five is a lot, right, I'm going to give you — I'm going to give you some credit. Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” To this, Kirk replied while taking the microphone, “Counting or not counting gang violence?”

NBC News also shared footage of the moment, ending the clip just before the fatal shooting occurred. The viral claim is accurate: Charlie Kirk’s final publicly spoken words were a pointed question referencing gang violence.

What did eyewitnesses claim about Charlie Kirk's final moments?

Charlie Kirk was answering a question about gun violence when a single gunshot rang out at approximately 12:20 pm local time, according to eyewitnesses and video footage from the scene. The shot struck him in the neck, causing him to recoil in his chair as blood became visible. Chaos quickly followed as the crowd of thousands scattered in panic.

“I heard a loud shot, a loud bang and then I saw his body actually—in slow motion—kind of fall over,” one eyewitness told reporters. Emma Pitts, a journalist with Deseret News, added, "We all dropped to the ground, and I want to say we sat like that for about 30 to 45 seconds, and then everyone around us got up and started running."

Bystanders rushed Kirk to a hospital in a private vehicle. Hours later, President Donald Trump confirmed his death in a post on Truth Social. In response to the attack, Utah Valley University officials evacuated the campus while authorities launched a manhunt for the shooter. Kirk’s wife and two children were present at the event but escaped unharmed. No other attendees or individuals on campus were injured.

Authorities have labeled the incident an assassination but have yet to identify the shooter or determine a motive. Police detained two individuals shortly after the shooting but later released them, stating that they had “no current ties” to the attack.

The Utah Department of Public Safety called the shooting “an active investigation” in its latest update. Law enforcement locked down the campus and deployed heavily armed officers to conduct door-to-door searches. According to reports from the BBC, the manhunt remains ongoing as authorities continue to track down the suspect.