A witness claims there was a shooter on a rooftop.

Tragic Event at Utah Valley University

The family of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk witnessed a terrifying incident as gunfire erupted at an event he was holding at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, resulting in his tragic death.

Kirk was shot in the head during the event on Wednesday. Deanna Holland attended with her family, traveling from Utah County, roughly 20 minutes away. She brought along her two daughters, aged 14 and 18, and a 12-year-old son.

“From what I can tell, there was a shooter on the roof,” Holland noted when recounting the chaos that ensued.

Her young son was eager to ask questions during Kirk’s address, standing closest to the stage, while Holland and her daughters were nearby. In hindsight, she recalled hearing a very loud shot that pierced through the atmosphere. “My son and my 14-year-old daughter saw Charlie get shot,” she said.

“Everyone fell,” she added, describing the pandemonium that erupted at that moment. Her older daughter searched for her brother, while Holland and her younger daughter hurried towards safety.

“I was 14, heading down the front concrete where there was a passageway just behind Charlie. I remember making my way underneath it,” she explained with palpable distress as she called out for her son amid the chaos.

Fortunately, Holland soon found out that her son had also taken refuge under the same concrete overhang, safe from danger. Police responded rapidly to the scene, guiding her family to a grassy area away from harm.

According to Holland, the gunshots were “really loud” and seemed to come from her right side, creating a sense of imminent danger. “There was definitely someone on the roof,” she reiterated, “but there wasn’t anyone shooting from the crowd that I could see.”

Despite all the fear and confusion, she mentioned moments of enjoyment earlier in the event, describing the audience as “a bunch of highly patriotic college students.”

Afterwards, her young son brought to her attention that he had been assisted during the chaos by a college girl who led him to safety under the concrete area. He even questioned if she was there to protest Kirk, as she had been wearing a shirt with a provocative message. “Regardless of her intentions, I want to sincerely thank that young woman,” Holland expressed. “My son was wearing a pro-life shirt, and she kept him safe.”