Witness Recalls Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
SALT LAKE CITY – Taylor Bentley, a Utah resident, was only about 15-20 yards away from Charlie Kirk when he was shot. Reflecting on the event, he described some moments as simply unbelievable. “He was discussing gun violence, and for just a brief moment I thought, maybe this is part of what he’s talking about,” Bentley recalled.
Bentley mentioned that he was close enough to see the blood pouring from Kirk’s neck. After a moment of disbelief, he sprang into action. “After just a second of shock, I pulled my friend down,” Bentley said. “We were on the ground for about 15 seconds, feeling helpless, before we began to run toward a nearby building.”
During the evacuation, which lasted around 20 minutes, Bentley felt anxious, but did not believe he was safe yet. “I was sure this was a targeted assassination. It quickly became clear that Charlie wasn’t going to survive,” he reflected, emphasizing he witnessed the scene unfold in real-time.
Two days post-assassination, Bentley expressed his gratitude for the community leaders, including the Governor of Utah, who have continually addressed the public through news conferences. The governor, Cox, labeled Kirk’s assassination as a “fork in American history.”
Furthermore, Cox declared that this act was a “political assassination” and an attack against American ideals. “Only time will tell if this becomes a turning point for our nation, but it’s up to us to make choices going forward. We have the power to decide.” Bentley added that Cox emphasized unity and hope, encouraging dialogue over violence, something he believed aligned with Kirk’s message.
Since the tragic event, various vigils have been organized throughout Utah. Community members, including students, gathered for a candlelight vigil at Orem City Park that Thursday evening. The memorial at Timpanogos Regional Hospital overflowed with posters, flowers, and American flags, bearing messages like “We Are You, Charlie.” The campus at Utah Valley University, where Kirk spent time, also saw an influx of tributes. Meanwhile, flags across the state were flown at half-mast, with gatherings at the Utah State Capitol on Wednesday night.
