When shocking footage from Utah Valley University surfaced online, one moment drew more attention than anything else. Amid the chaos following the shooting of activist Charlie Kirk, cameras captured a bearded man in a baseball cap raising his arms as others ducked for cover. To millions who viewed the clip, it looked like he was celebrating. Outrage quickly spread across social media, with many condemning his actions as heartless. But now, the man himself has come forward to explain what really happened—and his side of the story paints a very different picture.
Identifying himself only as David, he insisted he was never cheering for the tragedy. Instead, he claimed he was shouting “USA! USA!” in an attempt to project strength and keep panic from spreading in the crowded room. At first, he admitted, he thought the loud crack could have been fireworks, but once he realized it was gunfire, he tried to redirect the fear he saw around him. “I wasn’t celebrating,” he said. “I was trying to stop the chaos.”
David’s explanation has done little to silence the debate. A second video he posted, where he referred to “my soldiers, including Charlie,” only fueled more speculation online. Despite that, he emphasized that he never followed Kirk’s work closely and would never wish harm on anyone. Meanwhile, authorities have arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who faces aggravated murder charges after being identified as the suspected shooter.
Charlie Kirk, 31, tragically died after being struck in the neck during a student debate. Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum, including from Donald Trump, who called him “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk.” As for David, he continues to insist his actions were misunderstood. His viral moment has become a reminder of how quickly confusion and assumptions can spread in the aftermath of tragedy—and how one image can take on a life of its own.