University of Kwazulu-Natal

Charlie Kirk Shooter Didn T Need Special Training Experts Say

Bonisiwe Shabane
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charlie kirk shooter didn t need special training experts say

The slaying of Charlie Kirk unleashed a flood of speculation that his assassin would have needed military experience and sniper-like precision to make the shot. Not so, firearms experts say. Shooting Kirk with a bolt-action rifle at 150 yards from an elevated position was not difficult and did not require any special training, they told The Arizona Republic. Anyone with limited experience using a store-bought long gun and commercial-grade ammunition and a scope could have made the shot that took Kirk's life during a Sept. 10 rally at Utah Valley University. "It was a simple shot," said Charles Stephenson, a former FBI-SWAT firearms instructor.

"A novice would know how." Stephenson is president of the Orion Group, a security consulting firm in Overland Park, Kansas, and has testified as an expert witness in firearms cases. He dismissed notions that it would have taken a highly trained sniper to kill Kirk. It was a lone shot, fired from a distance of nearly two football fields, that struck its target in the neck. But the killing of Charlie Kirk would not have required an expert marksman, according to multiple firearms experts. They said the weaponry available today would allow someone with even limited firearms experience to pull off such a hit, making such tragedies exceedingly difficult to prevent.

“A person with minimal training and a scope would be able to easily hit a small target at 200 yards,” said Scott Sweetow, a retired executive with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and... Trained police and military snipers are able to hit targets in the head from more than 500 yards away, Sweetow and other experts said. Kirk, a conservative activist with a massive following, was holding an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday when he was struck by a single bullet about 12:20 p.m. Authorities said the gunman is believed to have fired the shot from the rooftop of a campus building, a position roughly 175 yards away from Kirk, who was seated under a tent in an... Authorities revealed Thursday morning that they have video of a college-aged person of interest making their way to the building, going through stairwells and then fleeing the rooftop after the shooting. By Chukwudi Onyewuchi on September 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM EDT

After the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, one of America’s top snipers has broken down how the attack happened and revealed the mistake that gave away the shooter’s lack of real training. Sergeant Nicholas Ranstad, known for holding a record-breaking kill in Afghanistan, studied footage of the shooting and explained the weapon, setup, and key details that showed careful planning. However, he also pointed out a critical error that could help police track down who carried out the deadly attack. Sergeant Nicholas Ranstad, who once set a U.S. record with a 6,778-foot kill in Afghanistan, told the Daily Mail that Kirk’s shooting was carefully planned but not perfect. Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy.

We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way. The original statement inquires about the gun training of Charlie Kirk's assassin. According to firearms experts, the shooting required no special skill, and anyone with limited experience using a store-bought long gun and commercial-grade ammunition and a scope could have made the shot [1]. A former Navy SEALs head sniper instructor stated that the shot showed basic competence, but not the kind of accuracy you’d expect from a trained sniper [2]. There is no indication in the provided text that the suspect had any formal gun training, but social media posts show the suspect handling weapons as a child and participating in family shooting trips... Other sources do not provide any information about the assassin's gun training [4] [5] [6] [7].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints Some key points that are missing from the original statement include the fact that the shooting may not have required specialized training [1], and the suspect's background and motive are still being investigated [3]. Alternative viewpoints include the idea that the shot was easy for someone with minimal training [2], and the suspect's potential experience with weapons as a child [3]. Additionally, some sources mention that the suspect was found with a gun and ammunition, but do not provide information about his gun training [8]. It is also important to consider the lack of information about the assassin's gun training in many of the sources [4] [5] [6] [7].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement The unidentified gunman was ‘either skillful or lucky,’ retired FBI SWAT member Dennis Franks told The Independent From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important... At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground.

Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Amid a massive search for the gunman who on Wednesday fatally shot 31-year-old MAGA activist Charlie Kirk, speculation continues to swirl about the person of interest now in the FBI’s sights. Amid speculation that the assassin of conservative commentator and organizer Charlie Kirk might have been a military-trained shooter, a former Green Beret says that isn’t necessarily the case.

“He was using a .30-06 rifle with a 4X to 8X zoom. You know, that’s what it looked like in terms of a scope. That’s a pretty standard projectile,” Lt. Gov. Jay Collins said on Thursday’s “Ingraham Angle.” “For that kind of shot, for someone who’s used the rifle a couple of times, I think you could safely make that shot and get, obviously get targets where you wanted to, and the...

Unfortunately, somebody with a little experience can make that shot happen, and it was unobstructed. … They had drop from the rooftop into the target zone.” Collins said the fatal shot that pierced Kirk’s carotid artery as he addressed students at a Utah university this week “cost America a living legend in Charlie, and someone who was brave enough to... Collins also described a way forward for conservatives who are still grappling with the tremendous loss to their movement. Charlie Kirk's killing was 'not necessarily difficult' if the gunman was a 'trained sniper', an expert has claimed. Conservative influencer Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck on Wednesday as he addressed thousands at an event in Utah Valley University.

He had been answering a question about mass shootings when he was fatally struck by a bullet from about 120 metres away. Kirk was taken to an area hospital where he died as a result of his injuries. The FBI announced it had taken two persons of interest into custody before both were released. New images of another person of interest have been released and a manhunt is underway to track down their last movements. The person of interest could be seen wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, a black shirt with an American flag logo on the front. Following the killing, experts have shared their views on the skills needed to have taken the fatal shot.

A former Army sniper told the Daily Star: "A 200m headshot is not necessarily difficult to achieve, not for a trained sniper. An elite American sharpshooter believes the assassin who fatally shot Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday was an “internet shooter” and not a trained soldier. US Army Sgt. Nicholas Ranstad said the unidentified gunman, who remains at large Thursday morning, was most likely self-taught and didn’t have any military firearm training. “They’re probably just an internet shooter, not a sniper or trained soldier,” Ranstad said. He went on to describe the scene where the 31-year-old father of two was killed.

“The security was super light, no crime at that school. So I guess the threat was low, apparently,” Ranstad told the Daily Mail. “That’s a buffet for someone who wanted to kill someone.” The shooting of Charlie Kirk in Utah had the hallmarks of a professional assassination, according to several security experts. The prominent conservative activist, who was 31, was struck in the neck by a single gunshot as he delivered a speech to a large crowd on campus at Utah Valley University in Orem on... He collapsed and was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Analysts point to the firing of a single shot and a preestablished escape route as evidence that the shooting had been carefully planned. Kirk was the founder of the right-leaning youth organization Turning Point USA and a longtime ally of President Donald Trump. Trump released a video message late on Wednesday saying he was "filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination", calling it a "dark moment for America." You’re watching the NBC 5 Chicago News streaming channel, which plays local Chicago news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can find the “NBC 5 Chicago News” streaming channel on your phone or computer, and on Peacock, Samsung, Roku, Xumo or on our app, so you can watch our local news on your... Editor's Note: President Trump on Fox and Friends Friday said that a suspect was in custody in the shooting of Charlie Kirk.

Our latest story and updates can be found here, with our original story continuing below. A palm print. A shoe impression. And a high-powered rifle found in a wooded area. Those are among the clues authorities laid out as they pleaded for the public’s help to find the person who assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk before dropping from a Utah university campus roof and... Stream NBC 5 for free, 24/7, wherever you are.

The search continued early Friday, nearly two days later.

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