Charlie Kirk’s former head of safety has dismissed conspiracy theories claiming his workforce flashed ‘suspicious’ hand indicators moments earlier than the conservative activist was assassinated
Brian Harpole, who was main Kirk’s safety element when the Turning Point USA founder was gunned down in Utah on September 10, advised podcaster Shawn Ryan that his workforce would by no means depend on ‘regular’ gestures that may very well be mistaken for on a regular basis actions.
Eagle eyed viewers seen two males seen standing behind Kirk. One seems to be adjusting his hat whereas holding a telephone, whereas the opposite strikes his arms and glances round.
Harpole stated that he understood that folks had been keen about studying why Kirk was killed however tried to debunk the hand indicators idea, saying they might by no means use one thing as typical as adjusting your hat.
He stated his workforce would as a substitute use ones that ‘cannot be confused with a person scratching his a**.’
Furthermore, he stated his workforce at Utah Valley University was ‘not utilizing hand indicators’ in any respect throughout their work that day.
‘If we would have liked to relay a message, then we might [say it] on comms… if we discover one thing, we’re not gonna use a hand sign,’ he stated.
He added that if anybody on his workforce had made a hand sign, the whole workforce would merely have a look at Harpole questioning what they had been imagined to do.
Brian Harpole (pictured) Charlie Kirk’s head of safety defined that there was nothing to theories on the web relating to hand gestures made by his workforce simply earlier than the conservative activist was assassinated
Harpole – who was the lead on the fateful day in Utah when Kirk was killed by a single bullet – was requested by podcaster Shawn Ryan about using hand indicators within the leadup to the taking pictures
‘It’s not good communication,’ he stated.
Harpole added that he was confused when he first noticed conspiracies that targeted on a member of Kirk’s safety workforce, Frank Turek, merely ‘as a result of he adjusted his hat.’
‘It’s like, okay, substantiate. So he touched his hat,’ Harpole continued.
‘There had been a line of individuals within the entrance and different those who did all kinda issues, everyone’s topic to that.’
Harpole was bewildered by the variety of conspiracies he is seen, together with an particularly weird one which claimed Kirk’s spouse Erika was accountable.
‘I get it, I’m not a conspiracy man however I do imagine that there are issues out right here greater than you and I which can be in operations,’ he stated.
On theories associated Erika, Harpole stated: ‘She’s a sufferer, that is her husband. How individuals with none proof are saying she’s accountable, that is what makes me lose religion.’
However, Harpole stated he held his personal suspicions in regards to the Kirk taking pictures, as he stated he ‘didn’t belief my very own eyes, ears, what I used to be studying, what I used to be watching.
A consumer on X questioned two males who had been allegedly ‘giving hand indicators’ together with one who was seen adjusting his hat. Harpole stated it was merely a coincidence
‘Lots of people have sensationalized this, and that may be a actual disgrace… it makes it unattainable to seek out the reality,’ he added.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Turning Point USA for remark.
The 31-year-old conservative activist and media character was shot within the neck whereas talking at an out of doors occasion on September 10, simply after starting a Q&A session in entrance of hundreds of scholars and supporters.
Security rushed him from the stage, and he was transported to Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, the place he was later pronounced lifeless.
Within hours of the taking pictures, movies, images, and eyewitness accounts started circulating on social media, with customers dashing to dissect each body for clues.
Some of essentially the most excessive posts counsel every little thing from suspicious non-public jets at hand indicators and even claims that the gunshot was really an explosion.
Conspiracy theorists have seized on transient clips and pictures, spinning intricate narratives regardless of investigators’ warning that no verified proof helps these claims.
Law enforcement businesses have additionally urged the general public to depend on official updates slightly than on-line posts.
Harpole was bewildered by the variety of conspiracies he is seen, together with an particularly weird one which claimed Kirk’s spouse Erika was accountable
Tyler Robinson, 22, was later arrested and charged with the homicide of Kirk
However, it has not stopped a flurry of on-line debate, as conservatives scrambled to make sense of a surprising assault.
A put up on X questioned: ‘…and why are these two guys giving hand indicators instantly earlier than the shot? Both standing completely to the aspect of the bullet monitor.’
Observers on social media have speculated that the gestures may very well be indicators associated to the taking pictures.
Investigators haven’t confirmed any connection, and neither man has been named by authorities as having any involvement within the taking pictures.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was later arrested and charged with the homicide of Kirk.
The assassination of Kirk, an in depth ally of Donald Trump who labored to steer younger voters towards conservatism, has galvanized Republicans who’ve vowed to stick with it Kirk’s mission of transferring American politics additional proper.
The President has declared Kirk a ‘martyr’ for freedom and threatened to crack down on what he known as the ‘radical left.’
He offered Kirk’s widow, Erika, with the Medal of Freedom in honor of her late husband in October.
