James O'Keefe Captures Raw Newsroom Reaction to Charlie Kirk's Shooting At Utah Valley University
Enjoying this? Share it with someone who needs to see it.
Up Next
Charlie Kirk Targeted in Shooting at Utah Valley University During Campus Event
1:14
Prayer for Charlie Kirk After Campus Shooting: A Moment of Faith and Intercession
1:56
Pastor Mark Driscoll Mourns Charlie Kirk's Assassination and Calls Him This Generation's Martyr
26:17
James O'Keefe Captures Raw Newsroom Reaction to Charlie Kirk's Shooting At Utah Valley University
James O'Keefe is on a call when he mentions the Charlie Kirk news to a colleague, only to learn they haven't heard anything yet: Kirk has been shot in Utah, and his condition is unclear. The call ends within moments so O'Keefe can check on him. In the room around him, the reaction unfolds in real time as colleagues scramble for details on Twitter, confirming that Kirk was shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University with his condition still unknown. Shock turns to alarm as the group repeats variations of 'that's not good' and 'this is really not good.' With a meeting already underway, O'Keefe decides there's no way to continue business as usual. He tells the room that Charlie Kirk is a close friend of his, ends the meeting on the spot, and asks everyone to join him in prayer for Kirk before he goes to find out more. The clip is a raw, unscripted look at how the news of Kirk's shooting landed inside a room of people who knew him personally, captured before the wider world had confirmed what happened.
James O'Keefe is on a call, telling the person on the other end, "You probably seen the Charlie Kirk news, so I'll let you get going." The reply catches him off guard: "I didn't see the Charlie Kirk news. I'm currently producing something. What's going on?" O'Keefe explains what little he knows. "I guess he got shot in Utah." The other person is stunned. "What? Charlie?" "Yeah, it's really bad," O'Keefe says. "His condition is unclear." With the news still developing, both agree to cut the call short. "Why don't we reschedule this call because I'd like to check in on him," O'Keefe says, and the line goes quiet.
Confirming the Reports in Real Time
In the room, word spreads fast among O'Keefe's colleagues. "Did that happen? Is he okay?" someone asks. "Someone said Charlie Kirk got shot?" "Yeah, in the neck, it seems." People scramble for details, checking Twitter and any footage they can find. "There's some video, I think we're trying to get a hold of," one person says. The first confirmed details point to an event at Utah Valley University, with Kirk's condition listed as unknown.
"This Is Not Good, Everyone"
As the news sinks in, the reaction in the room shifts from disbelief to alarm. "Oh my god." "He got shot in the neck." "Oh, boy." "That's not good. That's not good. That's not good." One person sums up the mood: "This is not good, everyone. This is really not good. This is one minute ago." Another adds, "People are crazy."
Ending the Meeting to Pray for a Friend
With the meeting still technically in progress, O'Keefe decides there's no way to continue. "I think we should adjourn this," he says, noting there was one more item on the agenda involving the Vermont State Police that would have to wait. "Charlie Kirk's a close friend of mine, and I think we need to call it, everyone," he tells the room. "I'm sorry we didn't end on a more positive note... we need to pray for Charlie, and I need to talk to some folks about this." He asks the room if it's alright to pray for Kirk right then, and the group agrees.
