Hamline University student caught boasting about celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death on video

'Why shouldn't I be glad that Charlie Kirk got shot?' the student was heard saying to Turning Point USA members in the video
UPDATED DEC 8, 2025
The members of Turning Point USA caught on video a student defending conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing, and at times celebrating it, at a small private college in Minnesota (@FrontlinesTPUSA/X, Getty Images)
The members of Turning Point USA caught on video a student defending conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing, and at times celebrating it, at a small private college in Minnesota (@FrontlinesTPUSA/X, Getty Images)


ST PAUL, MINNESOTA: A student of Hamline University was caught on video by the members of Turning Point USA, saying that he celebrated the shooting death of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The student defended his reaction, and the video garnered widespread criticism and concerns over the rising political hostility on college campuses.

Unnamed Hamline University student says 'I'm just glad Charlie Kirk got shot'

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA—JULY 26: Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, speaks before former President Donald Trump's arrival during a Turning Point USA Believers Summit conference at the Palm Beach Convention Center on July 26, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump had earlier in the day met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, speaks before former President Donald Trump's arrival during a Turning Point USA Believers Summit conference at the Palm Beach Convention Center on July 26, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The members of Turning Point USA caught on video a student defending conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing, and at times celebrating it, at a small private college in St Paul, Minnesota.

According to Frontlines TPUSA, the student approached the Turning Point members on the campus of Hamline University while they were hosting a tabling event.

"Why shouldn't I be glad that Charlie Kirk got shot? Like, honestly?" the unnamed student asked the Turning Point members.

The agitator doubled down after a back-and-forth about gun control.

"I wanna — I'm for the Second Amendment — I'm just glad Charlie Kirk got shot because he said some really stupid s***," he said.

When asked whether he had ever said "stupid s***," the student replied, "Well yeah, but —", before being cut off by a Turning Point member, who asked if he should be shot for the stupid things he has said.

Student misrepresents Charlie Kirk's words

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JULY 31: Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, speaks before Republican vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) gives remarks at a campaign rally at Arizona Christian University on July 31, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Vance has traveled to cities across the Southwest to attend rallies this week. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Charlie Kirk gives remarks at a campaign rally at Arizona Christian University on July 31, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona ( Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"No, well, because I didn't call for — I didn't say that gun violence is necessary," the student replied.

"I'm just saying, I think it's good Charlie Kirk got shot because he got what he preached. He said that violence is necessary. He said that empathy is a weakness. Why should I be empathetic to that?" the student argued.

Kirk never said empathy is a "weakness," but did say that he disliked the term on a 2022 episode of his podcast.

"He got shot because he called for it," the provocateur continued. "He said, Bring it on. I watched the video of him getting shot in the neck, and I clapped."

"That's so sad," a Turning Point student replied.

"I don't think it is yet. I think bad people deserve to die," the Kirk opponent said.

Nationwide incidents of people celebrating Charlie Kirk's death

The scene after shots were fired at an appearance by Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his
The scene after shots were fired at an appearance by Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

There have been several instances of people publicly celebrating or mocking Charlie Kirk's killing nationwide.

Less than a week after the tragic event on September 10, a student on the Clemson University campus was caught on video mocking Kirk.

Around the same time, a Texas Tech University student disrupted a Kirk vigil on campus, yelling, "F*** y’all homie dead, he got shot in the head," after which the student was expelled.

A Chicago public school teacher was also accused of making light of Kirk's death during a "No Kings" protest in October, and was caught on video making a gun symbol with her fingers, putting it to her neck, and pulling the imaginary trigger.

"Hamline University does not condone violence in any form," the school said in a brief statement. 

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