A man who claimed to be the person seen cheering as Charlie Kirk was assassinated has taken to social media to offer an explanation for his actions.
Viral footage shows the man, identified only by his first name David, seemingly celebrated after a shot was fired at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon.
David was seen cheering, smiling and pumping his fists from the crowd at Kirk’s event as everyone around him started to duck and take cover.
He even appeared to look backwards in the direction of the gunman, who is believed to have opened fire from the roof of the Losee Center, roughly 20 yards away.
Social media users were quick to criticize him, branding him ‘psychotic’, ‘cowardly’ and a ‘ghoul’. Some even urged federal investigators to bring him in for questioning.
But an X user, claiming to be the bearded cheerer, offered a lackluster defense for ‘his actions,’ claiming that he ‘drew attention so the security team could escape’.
The Daily Mail reached out for comment, but could not verified if the user @RtothepowerofX is indeed the animated person in Kirk’s crowd that he claims to be.
‘Losing Charlie Kurk is heavy, and we are still mourning,’ David wrote in his post, misspelling the conservative activist’s last name.
David, the man who appeared to cheer as Charlie Kirk was assassinated, has taken to social media to offer an explanation for his actions
David was seen cheering, smiling and pumping his fists from the crowd at Kirk’s event as everyone around him started to duck and take cover
‘Every lie about me brings me one step closer to becoming very dead and at the hands of the mob. Should I die for hate or entertainment? Truth will satisfy neather (sic) appetite.’
David said that like Kirk, who leaves behind two children, he too is a father and claimed to ‘feel the weight of Charlie’s loss to his family‘.
He alleged that he is ‘unequal in risk at this moment’ and will being waiting ‘some time’ before properly addressing his response to the assassination.
‘I didn’t wish to have my face everywhere, I’m terrified for my family and sad for Charlie’s too. I can not bear both,’ he wrote. ‘Please pray for Charlie’s Family.’
In another reply, he admitted ‘it was dumb’ but added, ‘I don’t regret it’.
X users were not receptive to his explanation and doubled down on their disparagement.
‘I was wondering who you were. I’m glad the whole world knows now. Good luck –– and I don’t mean that,’ one wrote, replying to David’s post.
Another said: ‘He did not just play the victim card?!’
‘Your reaction to this leads me to believe you knew what was coming,’ one added, tagging the FBI in their reply.
He has now offered a lackluster defense for his actions, claiming that he ‘drew attention so the security team could escape’
David has seemingly struggled to cope with the wave of harsh criticisms, taking to the platform twice more to justify his actions
‘You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t buy your explanation, sir,’ echoed another. ‘You were smiling and cheering when a man was murdered right in front of you. Drawing the attention of security seems unlikely.’
One even warned: ‘You made a seriously bad decision. Because of that, your life, and your family’s lives may now be on the line. Pray that the conservatives you so hate are not like you, and your fellow libs.’
David has seemingly struggled to cope with the wave of harsh criticisms, taking to the platform twice more to justify his actions.
‘I hear them SHOUTING CRUCIFY. Is it said that Christians can only be saved upon his death. I’m not Christ don’t make me christ. And be carefull (sic) of your shouts in anger. Your rage is embraced,’ he wrote.
‘I understand and something should be done but the mobs linch (sic) is not justice its recursive death for killing the wrong spirit.’
He further promised to ‘talk’ in the future and claimed his critics will ‘understand when I speak and I eagerly await a return to silence’.
‘For everything Charlie represented I was there for him, not for his words. I just wanted to meet him. Please please please,’ he begged.
‘I’m not like everyone else and it’s not just to judge me by an edited clip. You would not wish it upon yourselves. Please.’
The FBI has released images of a person of interest in the assassination and asked the public for help identifying them
Kirk was seen sitting in a gazebo on campus and taking questions from the 3,000-person crowd before he was shot and killed
Charlie Kirk’s assassin was dressed ‘all in black, long pants, black bag, aviator-style sunglasses with a long gun’ as he opened fire from the roof of a Utah Valley University campus building, chilling dispatch audio reveals
People screamed as they ducked for safety, while some fell over while trying to escape
Kirk, 31, was speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem at around 12.20pm when he was suddenly shot in the neck – sending him toppling over in his chair as massive crowds fled the scene in terror.
The father of two was then rushed to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The shooter, who fired a single shot from a distant roof, remained at large and unidentified on Thursday nearly 24 hours into the investigation.
He vanished after jumping off the roof and fleeing through a wooded area near the Utah university where Kirk was killed in a targeted attack.
The FBI has released two photos of a person of interest in the assassination. The individual was pictured wearing a hat, sunglasses and a patriotic black t-shirt.
Law enforcement has offered $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and issued an urgent appeal for public help in locating the shooter.
Investigators are sifting through potential clues, including a palm print and a shoe impression found near the scene, as well as a Mauser .30-caliber bolt-action rifle hidden in a towel in a wooded area near the university campus along what they suspect to be the path the shooter took while fleeing.
Besides the spent cartridge recovered in the chamber, three other rounds were loaded in the magazine, according to information circulated among law enforcement.
The weapon and ammunition are being forensically analyzed by law enforcement at a federal lab for clues that could help identify the shooter or the motive.
Kirk leaves behind his wife Erika and two children
The Wednesday afternoon attack, carried out in a broad daylight as Kirk spoke about social issues at a Utah Valley University courtyard, was captured on grisly videos being circulating online.
The videos show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck.
Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.
President Donald Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning the violence, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the US.
Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha are set to visit with Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City. Kirk leaves behind his wife Erika and their two children.
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