Yes, Charlie Kirk’s last words were, ‘Counting or not counting gang violence?’

On Sept. 10, 2025, conservative activist Charlie Kirk died at 31 after being shot at a Utah Valley University event — and social media users soon began spreading what they claimed were his last words before the shooting. 

Many of these posts claimed Kirk’s last words were “gang violence” or “counting or not counting gang violence?” 

These posts accurately described Kirk’s last words before the shooting, based on Snopes’ review of multiple videos, taken from different angles, of Kirk in his final moments. Thus, we have rated this a correct attribution. Here’s what Kirk said right before he was shot: 

ATTENDEE: Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years? 

KIRK: Too many. [Applause]

ATTENDEE: In America, it’s five. Now, five is a lot, right, I’m going to give you — I’m going to give you some credit. Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years? 

KIRK: Counting or not counting gang violence? 

NBC News also posted a video of Kirk’s last words, ending the footage before the shooting. 

Snopes has previously debunked claims that mass shooters are disproportionately trans people. We also investigated a claim that Kirk once said some deaths by gun violence were “worth it” in order to have the Second Amendment.

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