Utah Valley University students recount chaos after shooting of Charlie Kirk
Fear, terror and confusion gripped Utah Valley University as students recounted the chaos following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at their school. One couple who witnessed the shooting said the loud bang initially did not sound like a gunshot, but the panic that ensued made them realize something was wrong."We were just talking for a little bit, and then we heard a loud noise, and at first I didn't think it was a gunshot. I thought it might be like someone, I don't know, setting off, like, a firework or something," said Spencer Evans, a senior at Utah Valley University. "But, everyone started running, and then we heard people say that they saw blood and so that's what started to get scary. So we were running out of there."MORE | What we know about the shooting of Charlie Kirk at a Utah collegeAnother student noted the lack of security measures during the event, which was crowded with students, families, and protesters."It was kind of like a sketchy environment because there was no, like, metal detectors or anything," said Rose Call, a freshman at the university. "People could just walk in and so there were a lot of families there too. But after we heard it, I was so scared, I didn't think... I didn't want to think it was a gun or a shooting, but I realized there was no way it wasn't going to be that."Students are now uneasy about returning to campus. The university said all classes and administrative operations would be suspended until next weekâbut the tragedy continues to weigh on the students.MORE | Gov. Newsom decries 'disgusting, vile' shooting of Charlie KirkFreshman Natalie Euler was present during the incident, saying she does not share Kirk's political views, but believes no one should be shot and killed for their beliefs. Euler described the event as terrifying, noting that she initially did not register the sound of the gunshot amid the chaos."People are running in and then everybody's saying like, there was a gunshot. One girl said it sounded like a firecracker and then another person came in and said there was blood rushing and he was just running by and so I didn't hear anything else he said," Euler recounted. "Then another person, I heard them say... he got shot in the neck. I saw it happen."Euler said she will be more aware of her surroundings moving forward and is hesitant to attend future political events.As of Wednesday evening, law enforcement has not made an arrest in the deadly shooting. (Video below: Former president of College Republicans at Sac State reflects on Kirk's legacy)See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
