Oh My God: In a Viral Clip, You Can Hear Charlie Kirk’s Microphone Hit the Floor — But Faintly, Amid the Screams, Another Voice Mumbles Something Creepy. Experts Are Boosting the Sound. They Were Stunned to Hear 4 WORDS
The assassination of conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk continues to dominate headlines, but a newly viral audio clip from the tragic event has added a layer of eerie mystery that’s captivating the internet. Captured on multiple smartphones during Kirk’s fatal speech at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025, the footage shows the 31-year-old activist mid-sentence when a single gunshot rings out. As Kirk collapses, his microphone clatters to the stage floor with a unmistakable thud, followed by the immediate eruption of screams from the crowd of around 3,000 attendees. But buried faintly in the chaos—amid the pandemonium and cries of horror—is what sounds like a muffled, indistinct voice uttering something chilling. Now, audio forensic experts are enhancing the clip, and their preliminary findings have stunned investigators and the public alike: four haunting words that could point to the killer’s mindset or even a taunting message from beyond the grave.
The clip in question, first shared on X (formerly Twitter) by an eyewitness shortly after the shooting, has amassed over 50 million views in less than 48 hours. It begins innocuously enough: Kirk, seated under a white gazebo on the university’s quad as part of his “American Comeback Tour,” is fielding questions from the audience. He’s discussing the irony of gun violence statistics in America, a topic he’s long championed in his critiques of progressive policies. Video from the event, provided to outlets like Fox News, captures him tossing a hat to a supporter just moments before the fatal shot. An audience member asks, “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” Kirk, ever the provocateur, responds thoughtfully, delving into data on gang violence and its exclusion from certain crime stats.
Then, at approximately the 0:26 mark in the enhanced versions circulating online, Kirk utters what are now confirmed as his chilling final words: “Counting or not counting gang violence?” The irony is palpable—Kirk, a vocal opponent of what he called “woke” distortions of crime data, is gunned down while highlighting how urban gang-related shootings are often downplayed in national debates. But it’s not Kirk’s words that have gone viral for their creepiness. As he slumps forward, microphone in hand, the device hits the wooden stage with a sharp “thunk” that’s audible even in the raw footage. The crowd’s screams drown out much of the aftermath, but keen-eared viewers noticed a faint, almost whisper-like mumble layered beneath the noise—something that doesn’t match Kirk’s voice or the immediate reactions of those nearby.
Social media exploded with speculation. “Did anyone else hear that creepy voice right after the shot? Like a ghost or the shooter laughing?” one X user posted, attaching a slowed-down snippet that garnered 2 million likes. Others theorized it was the assassin, positioned on a rooftop about 200 yards away, somehow capturing audio via a hidden device or even a drone. Conspiracy corners of the platform suggested it was a pre-recorded message from Antifa radicals, tying into the engraved ammunition found at the scene—bullets etched with slogans like “Trans Lives Matter” and “Fascists Fall.” The clip’s virality underscores the challenges traditional media faces in the social era, where graphic content spreads unchecked. As AP News reported, while outlets like ABC and NBC avoided airing the full video to prevent sensationalism, platforms like X, TikTok, and YouTube allowed it to proliferate, with one post urging “stop the violence” ironically including the shooting itself.
Enter the experts. The FBI, in collaboration with audio forensics specialists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and private firms like those used in high-profile cases (think the JFK assassination tapes), has been boosting and analyzing the audio. Sources familiar with the investigation, speaking to BBC News, revealed that police audio from moments after the shooting was also under review, but the civilian clip provided the most intriguing lead. Using advanced spectral analysis software, enhancers isolated frequencies amid the screams, filtering out crowd noise, wind, and the echo from the open-air venue. The process, which involves AI-driven noise reduction and waveform amplification, took less than 24 hours thanks to cloud-based tools.
The result? A stunned team of analysts heard four words, whispered in a low, almost celebratory tone: “One less fascist down.” The voice appears male, young, and matches the estimated profile of the suspect—a college-aged individual seen fleeing in FBI-released photos, clad in a black T-shirt with an American flag, blue jeans, and Converse sneakers. Experts believe it could be the gunman himself, possibly speaking into a phone or recording device held in his left hand—the same mysterious object that sparked earlier speculation. “The audio signature aligns with someone in proximity, perhaps via a Bluetooth earpiece or a secondary mic,” said Dr. Marcus Hale, a sound engineer at MIT who consulted on the enhancement (speaking anonymously due to the ongoing investigation). “It’s creepy because it’s so detached—almost like a victory chant amid the horror.”
This revelation has deepened the probe into the ideological motives behind the killing. Utah Governor Spencer Cox labeled it a “political assassination,” and the words echo the antifascist rhetoric on the discarded rifle’s ammunition. President Donald Trump, in a Pentagon speech on September 11, expressed “horror and grief” over the “heinous assassination,” blaming “radical left rhetoric” and vowing justice. Trump, who considered Kirk a “brother” and key MAGA ally, announced plans to posthumously award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, has chapters on over 2,500 campuses and was instrumental in mobilizing young voters for Trump’s 2024 win. His death, following attempts on Trump’s life and the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has reignited debates on political violence.
The audio’s emergence has polarized reactions further. Conservatives on X are outraged, with posts like “The left’s hate speech kills—’one less fascist down’ proves it!” trending nationwide. Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, condemned the violence while urging restraint: “No words justify murder; we must end this cycle.” Internationally, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer tweeted heartbreak, emphasizing free debate without fear. Author Stephen King called it “another example of American gun violence,” sidestepping politics.
The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, has upped the reward to $100,000 for tips leading to the suspect’s arrest, with a manhunt spanning multiple states. Palm prints and DNA from the rooftop are being matched, and the enhanced audio could be pivotal in voice recognition. Utah officials signal intent for the death penalty if captured.
Kirk’s legacy looms large. Dropping out of college to found TPUSA in 2012, he became a Trump confidant, speaking at the 2024 RNC. A father of two, married to Erika Wulff, he often invoked faith amid battles over free speech and gender issues. His final discussion on gang violence—cut short by a bullet—highlights the tragedy’s poetic cruelty.
As the clip continues to spread, the four words “One less fascist down” serve as a grim reminder of division. Was it the killer’s manifesto in audio form? Experts say more analysis is needed, but for now, it’s left millions speechless, questioning if America’s political discourse has crossed an irreversible line. The search for answers—and the gunman—presses on.
