Joining me here now is Brendan. He's one of the people who was here when all this happened. Now, Brennan is not a student here. He came all the way from Clearfield just to be a part of this and to see this. And Brennan, you were telling me you were right there when this happened. >> Yeah. So, I mean, it was pretty packed when I got here. Um, it took me about 30 minutes just to find parking. When I finally got there, there were thousands of people, I would say. He was kind of like in a pit almost. Um, and we were kind of gathered up like some stairs. Um, I kind of moved my way closer. I was about 15 ft away. Um, he was actually just talking about mass shootings too, which is crazy. Um, with the trans shooting that just happened recently with the the trans shooter. And as soon as he got done answering the question, we heard a loud pop. Um, he got hit in the left side of his neck and dropped. We all dropped. His security dragged him out of there and we just ran. So, you know, crazy. >> I can't imagine. This is probably terrifying. You're there just to hear the debate, to be a part of this. You hear the shot. You said you hit the ground. >> Yeah. Obviously, cuz at first we didn't know what it was, you know what I mean? Um, once we figured it out, I was more angry, I would say, than terrified. You know, we hear all the time that we're the problem. We're the violent ones. We're the issue. And yet, this is the second mass like shooting attempt on a political figure. First, Donald Trump, now we have Charlie Kirk. But yet, we're the problem. I don't know of any mass shootings that happened with Joe Biden. I don't know any of Obama. I don't know of any of the Democratic side. And I'm not trying to be that guy. But like, we got to come together. This is ridiculous. whether you believe what he says or not, like we got to stop all this nonsense. >> Right. And absolutely and and it's one of those things too, you know, no matter what side you're on, we should be able to have debate openly without the violence. No matter what side you're on, it's very charged. It's very political right now. >> Exactly. >> But it's you I like what you said, we should come together. This needs to stop no matter what side. >> Right. Yeah. And I completely agree with that. You know, everything going on in the world, everything's so hostile now when it comes to political parties. We got to stop all of this. You know, like I said, they they blame us, we blame them. We got to stop and just come together. We got to stop having a political agenda and get us get them to turn us against each other like they are. And it's just what they want and we got to stop. And because I wear the stuff I wear, people look at me like a bad person. But I think I'm a good person. I don't care what you believe. As long as you're a good person, that's all I care about. >> Brandon, thank you so much for your time. Sorry cuz it's chilling when you see the videos. It's chilling. Sorry you saw this, but I know you're probably heading out and trying to figure out. You've been chatting with your friends, so it's just one of those things just figuring out what next. Brandon. Absolutely. We'll be all right. >> Thank you for your time, man. I really appreciate you. But here is Kim, her daughter Bentley, and Wes. Uh they were just here for the debate themselves. Uh not students here. You said you used to be a student here, but you you you didn't hear the shots, you said, Kim, but all of a sudden you saw people running. That that had to be terrifying. >> Yes. Um we were heading to the event and all of a sudden there are just a group of people just running down the hallway and they're like, "Shots have been fired. There's gunshots. Run, run, run." So I grabbed my daughter and we just booked it out of there. It was scary cuz you just you don't know if it's real, if it's not, but you just have to go with your gut and and get out of there. But it was scary. The adrenaline shot up through my body and I chills and just we were freaking out. >> Yeah. And and you know, we always hear about this. This always happens somewhere else. But when it's happening right where you are, all of a sudden it's as real as it gets and and you freeze. What do you do? >> Uh I didn't really understand what was going on. My and we just heard gun and I was like, "What's going on?" So I tried to alert other people. My mom was like, "Bentley, run." So, we just ran and found the nearest like door to exit out and it was just terrifying. You get chills and like you kind of freeze, but you're like, "I have to save my life and everything." So, that's just Yeah, it was scary and it didn't feel real. >> So, and mom as her mom, you know, we're hearing from a lot of parents who have who have students here. Their kids go to school here terrified. You are with your daughter seeing this. That's it's not only yourself now, but you're thinking of your daughter. >> Yeah. Very scary. I just wanted to get us out of there. And there was people that were just kind of like standing around looking around. And I'm like, grab one of the girls. I'm like, you need to run. Get out. Cuz people kind of didn't know what was going on. >> And you know, I'm like, leave your food. Run. And I don't know. It was scary. I wanted to get everyone out. >> I don't blame you. Uh, let me chat with Wes real quick, too. Where were you when this happened, Wes? >> So, I was in a room fairly close to where it happened, and then some people just ran in and yelled active shooter. So we we all just got to help. >> You hear those words active shooter, they become normal words almost in America anymore, but still it's terrifying. >> Yeah. I mean really none of us believed it at first and then then but we still just got out and saw the hordes of people running. So >> now just coming around chatting with people that's kind of what you do now because you you're sharing a terrible experience with others. It's how you I don't know decompress and deal a little bit. >> Yeah. I I really don't know. I mean, talking here seems to help with people who experience it in the parking lot as well. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry you went through this, Wes. Thank you for your time. I really appreciate it. And ma'am, I'm so sorry. Uh, what? Tell me, where were you when this happened? I heard you chatting with Kim and Bentley. Look, you were pretty close. >> I was really close. Um, watching the whole thing. And I was probably on the second um level up from well, I've never been to this place except for classic car shows, so I can't really explain to you, but I was to the left of Charlie. Um super clear view, saw everything happen, heard the gunshot. I was the last one standing because I couldn't quite believe. I thought maybe it was a stunt. And then everybody fell to the ground. We all fell to the ground. I got pushed into some bushes. I stayed there. There was a a lady with her elderly mom and I said, "Is she okay?" You know, and she said, "She's okay." So, we just kind of stayed in the bushes for a few minutes, maybe a minute and a half. And then a man said, "Go this way." And we went right where Charlie had come in and out. Um, and I was right behind the police when they had the man in the handcuffs. And uh I was standing right there next to them as he was on his knees and he said, I would say multiple times, but at least twice, "Just shoot me. Just shoot me." And I videoed it and I called him every name in the book that I could think of. Um which is probably not appropriate, but uh I was a shaken ball and mess. I'm still shaking and I'm still c still crying. I love Charlie Kirk. He's awesome and I pray for him and his family and I pray for everybody that was here to witness this. It's It's awful and I don't understand why we can't have something like this that is truly innocent. You know, there were the the non-believers, the ones that didn't like him, and that's fine, but to shoot him, he doesn't deserve this. >> That's the part I keep hearing from a lot of people, too, is like, look, no matter what side you're on, this shouldn't happen. >> Never, never, ever, never. And I I will always help anyone. I don't care if they're a Democrat, Republican, conservative, it does not matter. And I asked a girl, "Hey, can you tell me what building this is?" And she looked at my hat and she said, "Not with that fat hat. No way." And I was like, "Okay, well that was rude, but whatever." You know, to each their own, but it's sad. It's really sad the America that we have today. H >> I I don't know. People keep saying, "How do we fix this?" And you keep thinking, is this tragedy going to be the spark that gets us back together? Because something something is wrong and we need to come together. But how? >> I I wish I had that answer. Oh gosh. Uh, that's the multi-billion dollar question, isn't it? I I wish I knew. Um, prayer, pray. Um, stand up for your beliefs. Don't back down. Don't listen to the propaganda. Um, do your own research. Don't take one person's opinion as fact. Look into things for your own. I I would I I don't know. >> I could still You're still shaking. I am. >> I'm shaking just talking to you. One thing that that hit me when you were talking is you saw you saw Charlie get shot. >> Yes. >> And then you were waiting because I think you don't know where it came from. You don't know how many people there. You don't know what's going That's terrifying, >> right? And like I said, I I I wasn't sure because he was literally talking about um how many mass shootings from trans people. That's literally what they were talking about when it happened. And when I saw him get shot, I I like I said, I was probably the only one standing still for a minute because I was like, "What the heck just happened?" I thought maybe it wasn't real. And unfortunately unfortunately it was real. >> Now you're you're you're leaving. You're trying to get out of here. But you're talking with people you probably never met before because that's how you that's how you cope. That's how this was a tragedy and you were you were you were there. You talk about it, >> right? And this lovely lady here, you know, I just said, "Pray as I didn't realize that you guys were the news." I just said, "Pray for Charlie." And she said, "Are you okay? I don't know her." And she gave me a hug and you know, and I thanked her again for the hug because that's how we need to be. We need to be more loving and kind to our people. All of us. It doesn't matter the color of your skin or, you know, your political background. It doesn't matter. We're human beings. We're Americans. and we should stand tall for each other. >> Thank you for your time. I'm so sorry that you witnessed us and went through this and I know the adrenaline is wearing down now and that's where it really hits. But thank you for your time and sharing some of that. I appreciate my name's Alisa. >> Alisa, I'm Alex. Thank you for your time to meet. You said you are doing great. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. Thank you. >> So Alisa Kim Bentley West just some of the people here who witnessed this who were uh a part of this just coming here to be a part of the debate. Uh, I'm going to interview somebody named Ty West Morland and she's special to me because this is actually my niece that never really interviewed a family member before, but Ty was on campus uh when this happened, heard the gunshots, and so I found out she was here. So, that's kind of terrifying when you have a family member here. But Ty, tell me what what did you tell everybody what what did you hear? Do you know what I mean? What what did you hear and then what happened? >> Yeah, my friend and I got there pretty late. And so when we arrived, we were right in the building behind him. And we just heard a gunshot and everyone just started screaming. It was really chaotic. And we just ended up turning and running. There was just crowds of people screaming and then just like shooter, shooter, gun. And then we ended up getting outside, but it was chaotic for a really long time. Really scary. >> Yeah. It's just one of those things like what what do you what do you do when you hear that gun shots? You you freak out. >> I was kind of like in disbelief and for a second and when everyone was running and then yeah, I just started booking it. My friend, threw her drink and we just got out of there like as fast as we could. But >> this is always something that happens somewhere else. >> Yeah. No, it's odd to be a part of something like this. It's horrible, of course, and really sad for him and his family, but yeah, it was really scary. I'm glad everyone got out. Okay. >> Okay, Ty, give me a hug. I'm happy you're doing okay and that we met up and that you're doing well. Thanks, Ty. Didn't mean to put you on the spot. Thanks, >> Ty. Thank you. >> You said you saw this happen. >> Yeah. >> Explain to me what you saw. >> Yeah. So, I was in the front row and I was preparing to ask Charlie a question because I film a lot of videos out here in Utah and it was going to be more light-hearted and I was just watching him speak with somebody that he was debating with. And then I just heard a shot, you know, ring out and I was watching Charlie the entire time and then his left neck I saw a bunch of, you know, just a lot of blood just squirting out. Haven't seen that before. >> And um what what was your thought as you stand there and you witness this? Did it take you a second to process it or do you immediately know what was going on? >> At first I couldn't believe it at first. You know, like I said, I haven't seen this before. So at first I was like, there's no way this is real. And then everyone is just getting down. You know, everyone's piling onto each other. People are running out, you know, trying to get out of the way. Of course, thank goodness shots weren't fired onto the students. But everyone, of course, there was a lot of fear that just arose out of left field. >> And then uh what was the immediate reaction? Were people trying to help each other? Was it more of just uh everybody started to panic and try and get out there? Can I describe the scene with what people were doing? >> It was mostly panic. People just like trying to run out, get out of the way, you know? At first, everyone was just piling on to each other. Then people started to like run out, you know, run around the barricades, like hide around cars and stuff, and then people started to just leave. So, I just I just hopped in a car with a couple fellas I met and thankfully they just drove me out, dropped me off somewhere, and we were good. Now, just describe where it was cuz I I I saw a video and he's he's underneath his um canopy on a chair. Where where was it? Was there a lot of space out where he was where people were speaking or was it kind of enclosed? Kind of describe that that space. >> So, I was behind the barricade and there were about five people in I was behind the barricade and there were about five people in line, you know, ahead of me. I'd say I was about like 15 20 feet away from him and there was space in between of course the barricade and him and he had his security and all his like folks that work for that and all his folks that work with him. But yeah, I mean in the crowd there were so so many people and then you had a bunch of folks like behind him on a wall, you know, hanging LGBTQ flags, you know, like speaking their voices. So it was a lot of folks. >> All right, hold on a second. Alex. Um, and then as you saw saw the wound on his neck cuz it looks like the gunshot went off. He did this and fell over. Was there much more to that? Did he move when he hit the ground? Was he saying anything or trying to say anything? >> From what I saw, I just saw the blood bursting out and then he just fell. I didn't I don't know if he put up his hand at all. I just saw him fall over once blood started gushing out. >> Okay. Um, I think that's all I' the questions I've got for you. Um, is there anything else I'm not asking you want to mention? >> Um, nothing off the top of my head. >> Okay. And what about the political climate these days? I mean, um, more and more you're seeing a lot of just hate on both sides and sort of sort of violence. You have a kind of a feeling on the the national dialogue and what it should be versus what it is? I mean, I think I think a majority of us, if not all of us, can I think a majority of us can agree that violence obviously isn't the I think a majority of us can agree that violence isn't the answer. And, you know, it is what it is. It's really unfortunate. You know, prayers to Charlie and his family. It's really unfortunate what happened, but you know, this is this is not worth it for anybody. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Of course. Thank you so much. Now, I'm here on campus just outside of the the Wolverine services. And I also have now there's probably about approximately 50,000 students that attend UVU. And I'm here with Marta Villa. She's a thirdyear student and she wasn't there at the event, but she was in class and still some very tense moments. Martavia, tell me, what was that experience like for you? >> I mean, it was it was terrifying. Uh, none of us knew what was going on. I was just in class. Someone heard a stampede of people running down the hallway. Uh they checked it out and immediately they're like, "Lock the doors. Just go in." Um there's there's been a shooting. >> How were you feeling in those moments? >> I think we were all terrified. I mean, yeah, I was very terrified. I didn't know what was going on. Um yeah, I just wanted more information. >> Now, there are people who have talked about, you know, I wish there were metal detectors and, you know, maybe some more safety measures going on. One thing that terrified you, you were telling me earlier, is that the doors wouldn't lock. So, tell me about that experience. >> Yeah. Uh, we tried to lock the doors, but we were having issues with that. So, uh, the boys in the class just the men in our class, uh, just were guarding the doors. >> So, they barricaded themselves across the door basically to help people. >> Yeah. They were just standing by the doors just to make sure no one came in. You hear about all these things happening across the nation and folks here in Utah, you know, they don't think it's going to happen here in in Oram, you know, Oram Provo area. What are your thoughts on that? Have you ever experienced anything like that? >> No, I have not experienced anything like that. And I Yeah, I think no one would have thought this was going to happen, but unfortunately, it did. as you've talked to other classmates or other people in your cohort here at UVU, what have they talked about and and what are you kind of maybe reassuring them about? >> Oh, uh, I haven't talked to anyone really except my family and, uh, they're just asking me what's going on. um if I'm okay and I think everyone is just wondering if he's okay and if the shooter was detained which I found out he was and so that was good news. >> Any fear to come back on campus? >> No, I think I think we'll um we have this under control and I think our police are doing a good job of detaining and making sure everything's under control here. >> Thank you so much, Marca. I do have two students. These are unique students in that they are high school students. Okay, they are at Cedar Valley in their senior year. They were just here on campus though to take a test. So, I'm here with Ryder Warner and Kylie Stafer. Okay, Ryder, let's start with you. Tell us like what was going on cuz you were there at the venue when it first happened. >> Yes, ma'am. We were driving past it. So, when we passed it, obviously you have all the news cameras, all the cameras pointing towards them, all the students rushing in to go and see what's going on. So, we got to witness that and uh you know, just a normal talk by Charlie Kirk. It was kind of cool to see Charlie Kirk here. You know, we watch him on TV a lot. Uh watch his clips a lot on YouTube, whatnot. So, it was cool to see that. Um I was in a rush for a test, so I didn't get to stop and see, but I didn't get to see the venue. It was super pretty. Whole student body was there. It was super pretty to see. Um got here and it seemed like everything was in chaos. They uh were super hesitant about letting us test. Before we get to the test though, I want to just take us back to where you were in the venue because you said you actually witnessed the shooting. >> Mhm. Yeah. So, when they shot it was uh I wasn't actually there. I just saw it afterwards, the aftermath uh the cops rushing up, the helicopters flying in. Um I just saw videos afterwards. It was probably two minutes after I left that I actually got to see what happened. Um so when I >> And you got video from a student, another student, because you said it was very gruesome. What do you mean by that? >> Yes, ma'am. Um the video I had showed the side camera of it. So it was him getting shot in the neck and you can just see his neck go limp and all the blood come out. Um stuff like that. Super gruesome scene. Um I'm super glad I didn't see it in person. >> Did you at that moment did you go to um you know like what is going on? I mean what were you thinking at that point? >> Definitely panic mode. Um as soon as I saw that I knew well I'm here on campus. I don't think they're going to let us test. And sure enough they didn't. obviously super panicked. Um I felt for him, you know, watching him for years. Um I definitely felt a little bit of sorrow for his family, too. Um but yeah, state of panic and definitely just a little bit hurt for him and his family. He is a dad of two kids. >> Now, it's unique being that you're in high school and you watch Charlie Kirk. You know, you said that your dad and grandpa watch him and last night you were watching a YouTube video. Is that right? And you didn't even know he was going to be here. >> I didn't even know he was going to be here. he uh popped up on my for you page on Tik Tok and I was just scrolling through and I love watching his debates um especially as somebody who's big into English. I was watching his debates and learning how he argues and uh I actually definitely base a lot of what he does into my own life which is big for me you know being a student especially being in an English class. >> Now does he ever talk about violence or is it made you mentioned he was more Christian based and so this seems just out of the ordinary. >> It is absolutely out of the ordinary. I can't believe that this even happened. He never talks about violence, you know, it's not something he's big into. He's just into the argumentative side. Um, he loves getting other people's perspectives. Um, he definitely can get under people's skin just because in like any argument, you know, you're arguing against somebody or against what they're saying and uh, I guess that just got to him and somebody finally decided to act on it. >> Wow. Thank you so much. Absolutely. >> I am with a high school senior from Cedar Valley High School, Kylie Stafford joins me and she was here. She wasn't expecting to go see Charlie Kirk. She was actually here to support Ryder who I spoke with earlier. But we're going to go to her and see what was that feeling like when you heard people coming out and screaming. It's a very surreal scary moment not knowing what's going on with everybody around and it's like where are they? That's the scariest part not knowing where they are and wondering if you guys are safe and if you know everybody else is safe. >> And you happen to be here to give support to Ryder who was taking the test. Correct. >> Yes ma'am. Tell me what is your family, your friends, you know, is there a flurry of text messages coming in saying, "Are you okay?" >> So many text messages. Are you okay? What's going on? I heard on the news. A lot coming in. >> What is your feeling though? I mean, not too common that this happens around these parts. >> No, it's very scary, especially. It's very shock. I feel like we're all still in shock. Like it just hasn't like set in all the way cuz we're all just like hearing everything as it's coming in. And now hearing that Charlie Kirk has passed from this horrific shooting, what are your feelings? >> Super sad. I I don't even know what to feel at this point because it's all just happened so fast and just very sad. Very feel bad for his family and everybody else. >> Any of your actions or your path forward in your mind? Has that kind of changed or has the trae trajectory changed being that this happened? I mean, you're in high school. I mean, are you thinking about, okay, what precautionary measures do I need to take if I decide to go to college around here? >> Yeah, it really makes you realize that like the world is very real. Like, we're not going to be protected much longer as we're in high school, like realizing that I need to look at things when I go to college like that and realize there's a world out there. >> What are the drills like at Cedar Valley High School? >> Um, something like this. >> I don't know, just lock down in our classrooms. We actually had one a few years back. So, just kind of staying put until we get there. Okay. >> So, you had one at the school not too long ago, you said. >> Okay. And then now this. What is your take on everything? If you could talk to the people who can't be here right now, maybe high school students across the country, what would you tell them? >> Um, that's a loaded question. Um, stay safe. I don't know. just really realize there's real things out there and you need to take those precautions and keep yourself out of those harmless situations if possible. >> Thank you so much, Kylie. Unfortunately, it was a date gone wrong for a student that I'm next to, Nick Ecman. He was so excited to see Charlie and you know, he he's so sad about this news. Tell us what were you feeling? What were you seeing when all of this happened? Yeah, honestly the fact that it just happened all quickly and when when it just happened like it just everything just went crazy. Um people started running, screaming, shouting, yelling. Um people didn't know if it was them next. And honestly for me I I was worried that you know I came to see a guy but this guy was a family man. Um he had kids. I I loved what he was talking about and bringing up and bringing up that dialogue. And so honestly, I was my whole purpose in being here and coming today was just to learn a little bit more. And the fact that it ended so quickly, so fast in that way, it scared me cuz I felt like what's going on like what does this mean? What does this mean for like students like me? Like we can't engage in dialogue without or even come to a place where we can engage in dialogue. Absolutely just was did not expect it. Wasn't prepared for it mentally and emotionally, even physically. Still shaking. A lot of people were shaky there. Like seeing stuff happen that way was was insane. >> The interesting thing is you came specifically to see him. you are not even a UVU student. You're a BYU senior and you came here for him. So, the fact that all of this unfolded the way it is or way it did. What are your what are your thoughts? >> Yeah. No. Um, yeah, he he decided to come to UVU and I really didn't care. My friends really didn't care. We wanted just to come see him. So, we were willing to make the travel plans. I had a buddy saving a seat for me, too. And I was super excited and to see it end just like that in that horrific fashion so early in it was unbelievable and completely uncalled for. Nothing like that should ever happen. >> So, you were trying to find a parking spot to go in, excited to see Charlie. And then what happened? >> People started running out the doors. They started fleeing. People were yelling, not only like obsceneities, but they were yelling like, "Run, run, run, run, cuz they didn't know what was going on other than there was a bullet shot." And so I had people just running in front of me, running next to me. And I was super nervous just and I was like, I got to get out of here, too. >> So, at the time, you were on a date and then you were coming over here trying to find parking. So, that's like a date gone wrong, unfortunately. Yes. Yeah. I I like I said, I was coming back from a lunch date and I decided to come and running a little bit late and as I was trying to find that parking spot, everybody just started running and mayhem caused and my my buddy had brought his little sister. And so that was one of the things I was concerned about was is his little sister okay? Cuz I knew I knew my buddy was okay, but I was worried that his sister wasn't okay. So I immediately was trying to call him, contact him, and make sure that his sister was okay. >> Now you've received an unofficial text that you know with the echo echo chambers that you know they're hearing all sorts of things. We we're trying to sift things out still. What was that text that you did get? >> Yeah, so I actually just received a text from somebody that is is claiming that Charlie Kirk's wife and maybe a kid or both of his kids were actually at the event today. I can't imagine a worse thing for a mother or a child to go through than to see a horrific tragedy like that happen. >> What are your thoughts though going forward as far as Charlie Kirk and maybe following or even watching reruns? I mean, at this point, what is it? This is a man who was an incredible father, an example to me on what it's like to be a father to kids and to be an incredible husband to a wife. He pushed that so hard. And for young men like me, all I wanted to be was just to be a great husband and to be a great potential father one day. He's gone now. That means his kids aren't going to be able to see a dad and his wife is going to have to, you know, live alone without a husband potentially. Um, for me going forward, I want to see dialogue happen, but it cannot end like this. I you can disagree with me. I can disagree with you. But I will never ever wish upon anyone their life to be ended with a bullet, any type of weapon in any way. You deserve to live. You have worth and value. I want to engage in dialogue with you. I want to understand you. But I will not disagree with you to the point where I don't believe you belong here on earth. Unfortunately for Charlie today, that's what happened. >> Nick, thank you so much for your thoughts. I really appreciate it. I'm going to start with Nick. Nick actually was there in a middle row. Um Nick, tell us a little bit about what happened. Tell us your last name first. >> Uh Nick Call. >> Tell us exactly what happened, what you saw. >> So, uh I was just watching him speak and he was talking about gang violence and then I just hear like a loud pop and I'm looking at him and it doesn't even look real. Like it I'm only 18 years old. I've never experienced a lot of death in my life, but this is like the first time I've ever seen somebody die. And my heart was just racing. It was so scary. And I I was just appalled. Like everybody just drew flopped to the floor and I just tried to do what everybody else was doing. It was it was really scary. >> Oh, that I can't even imagine how scary that would be. When you did you drop to the ground as well? Were you waiting to see, you know, is there going to be another shooting? I mean, what was going through your mind? >> Yeah, I just I instantly just dropped to the floor. I didn't know if he was a mass shooter, like he was there to shoot everybody there. But when I was on the floor, there were some group of people at the top. They cheered when he got shot. >> And I was just appalled. I couldn't believe the lack of human life that some people have. >> The lack of empathy there. Oh, that is ju that's appalling. I agree. Now, when you saw what you saw, did you have a certain direction that you heard the shot come from or did you think it was just one shooter? >> Yeah. So, I was facing towards him and it looked like the shot came from my left, so his right, and it just went through his neck and out the other side. It was It was gruesome. Now that we're still trying to parse through information and we know that this shooter is at large, what are your thoughts now? >> I'm just I hope they catch this guy. Nobody deserves to die, no matter what your political beliefs are. And I just think that if you do something like this, you deserve to go to jail for life. >> Thank you for sharing. I'm going to move on now to Jack. We have two Jacks here. So, I'm going to start with you, Jack. What's your last name? >> Jack Stevenson. And tell me, where were you? How did you hear about this? What are your thoughts now? >> Yeah. Um, so I was just kind of like on the middle left um farther away from Nick, but um yeah, I just heard about it through social media and um I came to hear Charlie Kirk speak just because I thought it would be interesting and um see what he had to say and um and yeah, so that's why I came. >> So now in the aftermath, we're trying to piece things together. What are your thoughts now? just prayers for his family is honestly just what I've been thinking this whole time. Like Nick said, you know, no one deserves to die, especially with a wife and two young kids at home and all of his extended family. I cannot even imagine what they're going through right now. >> Thank you so much, Jack. All right, Jack, what's your last name? >> Uh, Watkins. >> Okay. You were there and you specifically came out to see Charlie, correct? What were your thoughts at the time? Well, so I was with Jack Stevenson here and we were kind of just like we should just go just like for fun just to see. We don't really care like about Charlie Kirk, but like you know what I mean? Just go, you know, and just to be there like and like it was good. Like it was it was really fun, but just like it's just crazy that chaos just happened so quickly. And I mean that's kind of all I I don't know. >> Do you have second thoughts about going to something like this in the future? >> I mean I don't know. Yeah, a little. like it's pretty traumatizing, but I don't know. I mean, this doesn't really happen. Like, he's been on he's gone to colleges all over the world and it's just crazy that it happened at my college, you know what I mean? Like, I just signed up to go here and just, you know, enrolled and I'm and it's crazy to see that like the one thing that I go to, something has to happen and that's it's just horrible. But I don't know. >> Thank you, gentlemen, for sharing your thoughts. >> Tell me where you were when all this happened. What What was your position in all of this? So, my thing was is that after I got done asking my question first with Charlie because I was the first speaker, you know, we basically ended saying, you know, like, "Hey, Mormons love Charlie. Charlie loves Mormons." And I kind of went off to the right, uh, grabbed my phone cuz I had some friends recording. Uh, and I really couldn't exit. So, I just had to turn around because there was just a crowd of people and there was no way to kind of get through the crowd cuz it's so compact. >> Henry, I appreciate the time. You also got Ryan over here, right? So Henry, you asked a question right before the individual did um after you. What did he ask and then what happened? >> So basically he just asked u questions about transgenderism and it led into like transgender violence and and and shooters and stuff like that based based off of you know what's been happening around the country and it's it's just been a problem. But I just thought it was very it was one it was very hard to reconcile for a while there. I think it was I was just in a state of shock. But the fact that it was like 10 to 20 seconds after I walked away, I turn back and I see Charlie just gushing blood from his neck. And after after that, you have a random old cook who has no weapon but confesses to the shooting for some reason. And I'm not okay with that because that that that took up a lot of cops that were there at the time that could have been searching for the shooter because the shooter's at large. We don't know where he's at. Uh they're like you said they're clearing room by room and I think a lot of us are super angry. A lot of us are super angry because it's just a lot. >> So you're telling me that the person that older gentleman who we've seen video on on social media who claims to possibly have have shot him, you're saying you don't believe he was the shooter? >> I don't He didn't have a gun. He didn't have a weapon on him. They just he just confessed to it and they grabbed him, pulled him over. is I'll tell you this about I was there about an hour and a half before the the the thing even started before everyone showed up and he was going around to talking to any conservatives and stuff just bashing Charlie Kirk. Charlie Kirk's this Charlie Kirk's a racist Charlie Kirk's blah blah blah blah blah and he was just making a scene and it doesn't surprise me he didn't from what I could tell he didn't have anything on him. If they did I don't think they would be looking for the for the the shooter because they would the weap if that if it was him they would have the weapon with him but it wasn't there. So that's Yeah, that's the whole thing. >> And you've heard since uh in the last moments, President Trump um sent out as well on social media that he passed away. >> Yes, sir. Yeah, I just I had a friend actually who just sent me a message, a bunch of friends who seen me on already on the on the news and stuff have been messaging me telling me like, "Yeah, dude, he didn't make it." And I think me and Ryan and a whole bunch of us are are just fed up with it. We don't know. There's stuff that needs to happen. It needs to change. Opinions shouldn't lead to shootings. I'm sorry. I think most people would probably agree with that. You hope so at least. Thank you very much. Henry Ryan, let me talk to you a little bit and you can stay here as well, Henry, if you'd like. Um, talk to me about where you were. Were you two together when this happened or where were you standing? >> No, I was about 50 ft away. I was in the thick of the crowd. I was working my way up to the stand to ask Charlie some questions. Um, at that moment, um, that the shot rang out, I look over and I see Charlie Kirk slump over for just a split second. Um, and the crowd just pushes back. Uh there's a huge a huge stampede pushing back. People are jumping into the into the fountain. Um people are running towards the building. I stuck around, tried to stay away out of everybody's way. Uh pulled out my phone, started to take some video. I got down there closer to the stand and there was very little police presence presence. However, at that time, I believe that's when uh that was when they had taken Charlie away. That's when they had already taken the uh alleged suspect away. Um, but as Henry mentioned with that suspect, uh, we were talking to somebody from Desert News who said they recognize this individual and he goes to political events. He goes to a lot of events with news and with media and he, uh, tries to >> stir contention. >> Yep. He's tries to gain attention, tries to take credit for what's, you know, what's going on. And here he is jumping up right after the shot saying he did it. Um, so that's really concerning to know. And I mean, hence the police presence that we see here today. It it looks like they have not apprehended the officer. >> Did you Did you see the shot fired? >> I didn't. It did sound like it came from the from the right side of me. And I tried to look, but I was getting pushed back by the crowd. Um I was talking to a professor who works here and he mentioned he said with the view that anybody could have had of Charlie, it could have been from 200 yards away. So I think that's why we're seeing drones in the air. That's why we've got helicopters in the air. We have a SWAT response. We're seeing snipers. Um, so I think they're still trying to figure out really where the shot came from. >> Last thing I'll ask you, you described the chaos. What were you feeling and thinking in the middle of that chaos immediately after shots were fired? I was thinking there is no way that this can be a real being here in Utah where it's relatively safe at UVU campus um where there's a lot of like-minded individuals. Um, you always hear people say you never think it's going to happen to you. I uh I have a different mindset. I think of always being prepared and it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. And I hope that everybody who's seeing this event unfold, I hope that um this is their call to action to speak up, to stand out, um to make change because this is unacceptable. We can't live like this. And honestly, we've heard this a lot from people about there needs to be a change from people who were there on campus. We hear this from politicians as well. What What is that change? What's going to change somebody from doing something like this? Like I we were speaking to a teacher earlier and he was talking about how practically the entire university, the chair, the president, the chair, no one was informed. No one was informed that Charlie was that there was not going to be enough security or anything. Some people were in class not even knowing Charlie was coming. Um I don't think that's okay, especially after what happened in Butler in Pennsylvania with President Trump and all this stuff. We know that this violence exists and we all know that Utah's had a lot of progressives come into town uh come into the state and with the same old rhetoric that leads to instances like this. And I think it's the rhetoric of people saying like, "Oh, well," like we saw people that were smiling when it happened. We saw people that were like, "Oh, good shot." All from, you know, the certain group of people. >> That's not right. >> That's not right. Both of you, thank you very much. I appreciate taking the time. I'm glad you're safe. Yeah, >> I appreciate you sharing your stories and your eyewitness account. So, thank you. Best of luck to you. >> So, I was at the UVU campus, right, in the Hall of Flags. If you guys don't know where it is, if there's a like a built there's like a hallway with like a bunch of flags. That's where is it at. So, the the event was taking place at the UVU fountain courtyard. So, it's like outside. So, like this is um outside. This where Charlie Cook was at. And this is a Hall of F right here. So I was standing right here behind the windows and I you know I I came there after class and just started listening to him from the from that point of view. Now he had a microphone on so I could still hear him pretty well. He spoke pretty well and it was pretty loud too. So I was like you know I'm just going to stand right there because there's a lot of students outside. So and know >> so what did you see? So when when so like when it happened, all I heard was a shot, right? All I heard was a shot and then after a shot, everybody started running away and and after one shot, everybody ducked down, including me. So I ducked down, too. Um I didn't I didn't like look to see where the shooter is at or where he shot from because, you know, I don't want to get um shot either. So, um I thought, so I thought I mean I was thinking the shooting the shot was coming like on the left side of the of the well from my point of view it was coming from the left side cuz he got shot in the neck right here and he also got shot in the in in a in a chest shoulder kind of looking like >> you heard two shots. >> I only heard one shot but what my friends told me is um he got shot in the neck and the shoulder. I I didn't see like like exactly like where he got shot from. The only thing I saw was blood. That's that's the only thing I saw. >> So your reaction to this happening? Well, I mean what did you what are you feeling as a student here and what did you think of having this? >> I mean I this was devastating. So like my reaction is like I was super surprised cuz like UVU is like the last place where like you know shooting like happens cuz like this place is a good school. A lot of good students, a lot of good professors and like just a great environment. So like to so like to hear like a shot to to hear like a gun sounds in UVU was like pretty devastating. And um yeah, it kind of like >> Yeah. I saw like when he got shot and I saw blood, I was pretty traumatized from that. I'm like, "Oh my gosh, I just saw like a guy got shot, you know, he he might be possibly dead or I really hope he's okay, but it was um that was my reaction. I was pretty devastated and u this this is a pretty sad day for like the UVU cuz some see cuz it never it never happens like this before. It's a good school, great environment, and like good location, great people. Just everybody is awesome there. All the friends I met, all the professors I met like really changed my life. So it was pretty devastating what happened at Charlie Kirk event building duck down. I ducked down as well and like I got I when I well before I ducked down I got like a little uh glimpse at Charlie Kirk and there was blood all over his shoulder and on his left shoulder and that is pretty devastating to see. I wish I could unsee that, but that was pretty traumatizing and stuff. >> We've heard a lot of that. Uh your reaction that something would happen like that right here at UVU. I mean, this is obviously a very safe campus. A lot of good students here, a lot of good people. Your reaction? >> Yeah. No, like you said, like there's a lot of good um people like friends, professors. This is this is UVU is the place for you. And like so far, like it's been an awesome experience for something that to happen. It's just really devastating and I can't believe it right happened right here. >> Kind of describe a little bit of the chaos there is what we heard as far as people kind of running and and and kind of getting out of the way there. I mean there's some shock there, but tell us kind of what you saw when people started to kind of get out of the way. >> So yeah, when I saw the one like after the shot, everybody from the courtyard starting running away, everybody from my building started running ray, but me like I was like literally shocked. So I couldn't really move. So, I was just standing in one spot, you know, ducking my head down for some reason. I don't know why I didn't run away. I was just like, "Oh my goodness, is this really happening?" So, at first I was like, "Is this really happening?" And yeah, so then like after like everybody was cleared out, I finally got up and look at the aftermath and it was pretty devastating. >> And tell me a little bit about coming back to school now. Of course, campus is closed right now. Your thoughts about coming back to school? Well, is that going to be a little traumatic? >> I mean, for me, it won't be dramatic. It'll just be like another day, another like life. I mean, yeah. That did it dramatize me? Yeah, but like I'm not going to think about it too much. Of course, like will it dramatize me for life forever? Yeah, it will. But, you know, all this is like keeping the keeping positive um having positive minds and like having like Jesus and God on your side. So, but like for other students, they're probably traumatized to come back here. I can't imagine what other students have to go through, especially something similar to mines. >> Okay, thank you very much. Appreciate that. That's Gordon Ramsey's just joining us here on campus. Again, we're hearing a lot of the same kind of stories here. A lot of trauma here as far as these students are concerned. A lot of shock, a lot of disbelief that something like that would just happen right there in the middle of the day. It seemed like a very safe uh venue. It seemed like a very safe area, of course, and then to have something like that happen and to witness something like that. And not only did they witness it, but it was very traumatic as far as what they witnessed, you know, to be able to see someone actually get hit with a bullet, blood coming out, and then that person dropping to the ground. So, everybody out here, a lot of people saying they're praying for Charlie, hoping that he will be able to recover right now. But again, uh campus is finally starting to clear out out in this area. Again, as we mentioned, just on the north side here of the UCCCU Center Arena and uh boy, traffic is really kind of moving forward finally, but it took a couple of hours to be able to get everybody out of here, but man, it was quite the traffic jam. A lot of police presence still out here in this area. We'll send it back to you.
