On September 10, Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead during a speech at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The attack, which left a packed auditorium in chaos, was witnessed by Brian Harpole, Kirk’s former head of security and now CEO of Integrated Security Solutions. In a raw, emotional interview on The Shawn Ryan Show, Harpole gave the most detailed public account yet of the assassination — not just the gunfire, but the silence that followed, the hospital room, and the moment Erika Kirk stepped in to see her husband’s body. What happened then, he said, is something no one should have to hear. And he won’t repeat it.
The Moment the Gun Fired
"As Kirk addressed the audience, a gunshot echoed through the hall," Harpole told Ryan. He didn’t hesitate. He threw himself over Kirk, his body shielding the speaker as blood began to pool. What struck him most wasn’t the scream, or the panic — it was Kirk’s face. "Doll’s eyes," he called it. "Completely blank. No fear. No pain. Just… gone." The bullet had hit the carotid artery. Harpole went into survival mode: "Pack, pressure, pray." He pressed his hands hard against the wound as staff rushed to load Kirk into a van. The ride to the hospital was silent except for the sound of blood soaking through fabric.What Happened in the Hospital Room
Erika Kirk arrived before the doctors could prepare her. "They told her to brace herself," Harpole recalled. "She didn’t listen." She walked in alone. No one stopped her. No one could. And when she saw him — when she saw the man she’d spent her life with, now still and silent — she spoke. Harpole paused for a long moment before answering Ryan’s follow-up: "Did she say something?" "Yes," he said quietly. "But you don’t want to hear that. She’s a victim. That’s her husband." What happened next, however, was something Harpole felt compelled to share — not for shock value, but because it mattered. Erika noticed something on Charlie’s face. A faint smirk. Not a smile. Not a grimace. A smirk. The kind he used when he’d just outmaneuvered a debate opponent, or when he’d won an argument he knew others thought he’d lost. "She told me later," Harpole said, "she thought he was saying: ‘You thought you could end this by murdering me. You got my body — you didn’t get my soul.’" It wasn’t just grief. It was defiance. And it came from a woman who’d just lost everything.
The Bullet’s Path — And the Silence Around It
Harpole shared forensic details that have never been made public. "The doctor came out and said the bullet came in, hit the first vertebra, crushed it, shattered it, turned, crushed the second one, and kept going down," he recounted. "It didn’t just kill him. It tore through his spine like a wrecking ball." He believes this information should be public. "I don’t see how that could jeopardize a fair trial," he said. Yet, officials have withheld it. "They’re protecting the process," he added, "but what about protecting the truth?" He’s also been blunt about security failures. "I spent thousands of dollars last year on drones, on surveillance, on training," he told AOL. "We had protocols. We had backups. But at UVU? Nothing was followed." Hindustan Times reported that Harpole believes the event’s security team was understaffed, undertrained, and ignored warning signs — including an unattended backpack near the stage minutes before the shooting.The Ripple Effect
Since the assassination, Turning Point USA has been flooded with misinformation. False claims about Kirk’s last words. Fabricated videos. Even rumors that he faked his own death. Harpole says these lies have made grieving harder for Erika and the Kirk children. "They’re not just mourning a husband and father," he said. "They’re fighting a war against lies that spread faster than the truth ever could." Meanwhile, Harpole has become an unlikely voice for transparency. "This isn’t just about legal procedure," he told Charisma News. "It’s about human decency. If we bury the facts to protect a narrative, we bury the person too." Erika Kirk has not spoken publicly since the day she saw her husband’s body. But those who’ve spoken to her say she’s begun quietly organizing a foundation in Charlie’s name — one focused on securing free speech events, especially on college campuses. "He believed in the power of words," she told a close friend. "Now I have to make sure they’re not silenced by bullets."
What Comes Next
The suspect, a 23-year-old man linked to far-left activist groups, is currently in custody. His trial is expected to begin in late 2025. Harpole has offered to testify — not just about the shooting, but about the security lapses that made it possible. "If I can prevent even one more person from going through this," he said, "then I owe it to Charlie." And in quiet moments, he still hears it: the gunshot. The silence. And Erika’s voice — raw, broken, and unbreakable — saying what no one else dared to say.Frequently Asked Questions
Why hasn’t Erika Kirk spoken publicly since the assassination?
Erika Kirk has chosen privacy over publicity, likely to protect her children and avoid exploitation of her grief. Those close to her say she’s focused on healing and building a foundation in Charlie’s name to secure free speech events on campuses. Public appearances, she believes, would distract from the mission — and reopen wounds she’s still healing.
What security failures occurred at Utah Valley University?
According to Brian Harpole, UVU’s security team ignored multiple protocols: no bag checks, no perimeter sweeps, and no trained personnel near the stage. An unattended backpack was reportedly seen near the podium minutes before the shooting, yet no one investigated. Harpole, who had previously invested in drone surveillance for TPUSA events, called the oversight "unforgivable." Authorities have since launched an internal review.
Why are the forensic details of the shooting being kept secret?
Prosecutors have withheld the full medical report, including the bullet’s path through the spine, citing trial integrity. But Brian Harpole argues the details don’t reveal witness identities or investigative methods — only the weapon’s trajectory. He believes transparency would strengthen public trust, not undermine justice. Legal experts are divided, but no court has yet ruled on releasing the information.
How has Turning Point USA responded to the assassination?
Turning Point USA has continued operations under interim leadership, but internal morale remains low. The organization has launched a $5 million security fund for campus speakers and launched a documentary series on free speech under threat. However, Harpole says misinformation campaigns — including fake videos and death hoaxes — have damaged credibility and caused emotional harm to the Kirk family, complicating recovery efforts.
What does the "faint smirk" on Charlie Kirk’s face mean to those who knew him?
Friends and colleagues say Charlie Kirk often smirked after winning a debate he knew others thought he’d lost — a quiet, almost defiant expression of confidence. Erika Kirk interpreted the smirk as a final message: his ideology outlived his body. For many who knew him, it’s not morbid — it’s deeply human. It’s how he lived: never backing down, even in death.
Is Brian Harpole involved in the legal case against the suspect?
Yes. Harpole has been formally designated as a key eyewitness and has provided detailed testimony to prosecutors. He plans to testify about both the shooting and the security failures at UVU. He has also offered to help train campus security teams nationwide to prevent future attacks — turning his grief into action.