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.
He said the rally at Utah Valley University was like a “fish bowl” for any sniper, with open space and high ground from nearby rooftops.
“That’s a buffet for someone who wanted to kill someone,” he said, noting the lack of serious security and the easy angle for a shooter. Ranstad explained that the 200-yard distance was simple for even an average marksman.
Calm winds outside the city made the shot easier.
“Any bloke can go to the range three or four times and make that shot,” he added, suggesting police look at gun range visitors.
Still, the sniper said details of the attack showed the killer wasn’t a professional soldier, even though the shot was deadly.
Ranstad Says Kirk’s Killer Didn’t Use An AR-15
Police and SWAT at the Utah Valley University as they continue to search for the assassin who shot and Killed Charlie Kirk
Right after the attack, many thought the weapon used was an AR-15, which has been linked to several mass shootings.
However, Ranstad said that wasn’t true. After reviewing the sound and video of the moment Charlie Kirk was shot, he insisted it was a stronger rifle.
“It sounded like a high-powered rifle, possibly bolt action,” he explained, saying it may have been a .308 bolt action or 7.62 caliber weapon.
The sergeant revealed that AR-15s make a sharp cracking sound, but the shot that killed the activist had a deeper echo.
This detail showed the shooter picked a gun built for long-range accuracy instead of speed.
For Ranstad, that choice showed the attack was not random but planned out.
The assassin wanted precision and had likely thought about every step before firing the single fatal bullet.
Even with all the planning, Ranstad spotted one big mistake that proved the shooter wasn’t fully trained.
Kirk was hit in the neck, but Ranstad believes the killer was aiming at his head.
“He was probably aiming for the head but didn’t take into consideration the wind, and the bullet pulled a bit,” he explained.
The trained sniper added that the shooter didn’t properly adjust for the bullet’s drop or the firing angle.
Video also suggested a bad trigger pull from a right-handed shooter, which Ranstad said was another sign of inexperience.
For a skilled sniper, hitting the wrong area by inches would be unlikely. To him, the neck shot showed nerves and adrenaline were involved.
He even suggested the killer was probably just an “internet shooter,” someone with practice at a range but without the discipline of a trained soldier.
Thousands of people watched in horror as Charlie Kirk collapsed. Graphic videos showed him jerk back as blood poured from his neck. Panic followed immediately, with crowds screaming and running for safety.
According to Ranstad, the wound gave the father of two little chance of survival.
“In my opinion he was dead on the spot,” he said. “I’ve seen arterial bleeds like that and you have seconds.”
Security rushed to act, but the open amphitheater gave little cover. The shooter fired just one bullet and vanished, setting off a huge manhunt.
FBI agents and local police stormed the area, briefly detaining two men before letting them go.
Ranstad said that the fact that the shooter fired just one shot showed how planned and deliberate the attack was.
“Normally, it’s crazy people who shoot 30 rounds. This was one shot, that was it. In my opinion, they had a plan,” he noted.
The Turning Point USA founder leaves behind his wife, Erika, their daughter, and their young son. The couple had just marked their fourth wedding anniversary.
President Donald Trump honored him on Truth Social, calling Kirk “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk.”
Trump praised him as a leader who understood young Americans better than anyone else. He also ordered flags flown at half-staff until Sunday evening to mark Kirk’s passing.
Ranstad, who lowered his own flag, also said the death struck him deeply. “I pray for Charlie,” he shared.
On Thursday, a 22-year-old from Utah was arrested over the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while on stage at a university event earlier this week.
Tyler Robinson was taken into custody late, after a 33-hour manhunt that ended after his father helped persuade him to surrender to police.
His arrest was first announced by US President Donald Trump, who called for the suspect to face the death penalty.
The killing of Kirk, who was shot while debating with students on Wednesday, has shocked Americans and laid bare the country’s sharp partisan divisions.
Investigators said at a news conference on Friday that the suspect had confessed to his father and said he would rather take his own life than surrender. The father then called a youth pastor who is a family friend.
Both men tried to calm the suspect down, police said. The pastor, who also serves as a court security officer, later called the US Marshals, who detained the suspect at around 22:00 local time on Thursday.
Utah’s governor said he was not aware of any potential further arrests in the investigation.
State prosecutors said they planned to file formal charges against Mr Robinson on Tuesday.
He is accused of aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm, according to a Utah County Sheriff inmate booking sheet obtained by the BBC.
Students at Utah Valley University told the BBC they were relieved to hear of the arrest.
The campus has been closed since the shooting on Wednesday afternoon – with yellow tape and police vehicles blocking much of the school.
“He was apprehended in Washington County, which is where I’m from,” said first-year student McKinley Shinkle. “I just feel deeply ashamed.”
“I’m definitely relieved,” added McKinley’s cousin Anthony. “I’m just anxious now to hear his motives and why this happened.”
Public records viewed by the BBC suggest Mr Robinson had registered as an unaffiliated – or nonpartisan – voter in Utah in the past. Matthew Carl Robinson, the suspect’s father, and Amber Denise Robinson, the suspect’s mother, are registered Republicans, state records show.
Voting records indicate that he did not vote in the last presidential election, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner. He was not old enough to vote in 2020.
The suspect lives in St George, Utah, near Zion National Park, about 250 miles (400km) south-west of the campus where Kirk was shot.
He is a third-year student in an electrical apprenticeship programme at Dixie Technical College in south-west Utah, where he lived, a spokesperson for Utah Valley University (UVU) told the BBC.
Social media accounts indicate Mr Robinson’s father runs a kitchen countertop and cabinet installation business, while his mother is a social worker. The family is Mormon and active in the local church.
