Mystery bearded man seemingly cheering after Charlie Kirk shooting says he shouted ‘USA’ to ‘save lives’

OREM, UTAH: A man captured on video appearing to cheer moments after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in Utah has come forward to explain his actions.

The unidentified man, who goes by “David” on X, claimed in a two-minute statement that he was not celebrating Kirk’s assassination but instead chanting “USA” to create a “distraction” and prevent panic.

Mystery bearded man in viral clip says he was chanting ‘USA’ to calm panic

“When I heard a sharp crack at first I thought it might have been fireworks or a disruptive prank,” he said, appearing in the same tan-colored backward cap as the man in the viral clip. “When no smoke appeared, I realized it must have been a firearm.”

He said he noticed Kirk had been “gravely injured” and “instinctively checked the security team’s movement” before standing up and shouting “USA.”

According to him, the chant was meant “to project strength, encourage others, and create a distraction that might help calm panic or even save lives.”

“I stood and shouted ‘USA,’ not as a provocation, but to project strength, encourage others, and create a distraction that might help calm panic or even save lives,” he added.

In his statement, David insisted that he was only minimally familiar with Kirk’s work and had no intention of mocking his death. “I would never wish to celebrate harm to anyone,” he said, adding that his reaction was misinterpreted because of the chaos in the crowd.

The explanation came after widespread outrage online, with many social media users accusing him of cheering the fatal shot. The video quickly circulated on multiple platforms as one of the most disturbing images from Wednesday’s tragic event at Utah Valley University.

Bizarre follow-up rant

Not long after his clarification, David posted another, less coherent video in which he described himself as “the happiest person you ever met in your entire life” but also launched into a rambling tirade.

He said he was tired of seeing “my soldiers, including Charlie, dying so you guys can mock each other,” adding the word “mock” repeatedly while staring directly into the camera.

He further called out media personalities across the political spectrum including John Oliver, Matt Walsh, and Steven Crowder accusing them of fueling a culture of ridicule.

“Mockery … on both sides of the equation … is killing my soldiers, my people,” he said, without clarifying who he considered his “soldiers.”