The thriller bearded man who seemed to be celebrating within the crowd moments after Charlie Kirk was shot claimed he wasn’t cheering the horrifying violence, however shouting “USA” to create a “distraction” which may assist “save lives.”
A person going by David on X, who claims to be the particular person seen within the viral video filmed on the Utah Valley College occasion, posted a two-minute assertion through which he makes an attempt to clarify himself.
“Once I heard a pointy crack at first I believed it might need been fireworks or a disruptive prank,” the person says, showing to be carrying the identical tan-colored backwards cap as the person apparently celebrating within the video.
“I seemed as much as the horizon for smoke. When none appeared, I spotted it will need to have been a firearm,” he mentioned in a monotone voice, his eyes seeming to dart forwards and backwards as if studying the assertion as he stumbled over a number of the phrases.
He mentioned based mostly on a good friend’s response he “believed Charlie had been gravely injured,” and “instinctively checked the safety workforce’s motion” earlier than rising to his ft.
Keep updated on the taking pictures of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
“I stood and shouted ‘USA,’ not as a provocation, however to challenge energy, encourage others, and create a distraction which may assist calm panic and even save lives.”
He claims he was solely minimally conversant in Kirk‘s content material, however mentioned he “would by no means want to have fun hurt to anybody.”
A short while later, he posted a rambling follow-up video, calling himself “the happiest particular person you ever met in your total life” and claiming to be sick of “my troopers, together with Charlie, dying so that you guys can mock one another,” he mentioned staring straight into the digital camera. “Mock, mock, mock.”
As he continued ranting, he referred to as out media figures together with John Oliver, Matt Walsh and Steven Crowder, saying “mockery … on each side of the equation” was “killing my troopers, my individuals.”
He didn’t elaborate who his “troopers” had been.
