Closing in on How Charlie Kirk Was Assassinated

By  Ginny Garner 

January 31, 2026

The explanation as to how Charlie Kirk was assassinated that has the most credibility and has gained the most acceptance is what is known as the exploding microphone theory. The researcher who first postulated this hypothesis, Jon Bray, has been fine tuning his proposition as his research continues since he first posted his theory on X on September 17, 2025, 7 days after Charlie's murder. Bray's expertise in software engineering, battery technology, explosives, CO2 machines and high pressure equipment and his curiosity made him a natural to question the official narrative on Charlie's murder and to investigate what actually happened.

In my article published on lewrockwell.com on October 23^rd, I explained Bray's theory had already convinced me. I had added it was likely Charlie had also been electrocuted and I still believe more than one factor caused Kirk's death. A few weeks ago, Candace Owens stated on her podcast in response to an audience question that she thought the exploding microphone theory was very credible. Attorney Baron Coleman, who is doing an excellent job on YouTube and X investigating the assassination, initially dismissed the theory but now thinks it is very plausible. Coleman also believes Kirk was likely electrocuted, tasered and had his neck broken.

The official FBI explanation is that Kirk was assassinated by a single 30-06 bullet from an old bolt-action rifle fired by Tyler Robinson from the Losee Center on the UVU campus 142 yards away from Charlie. When no exit wound was discovered, TPUSA's PR guy Andrew Kolvet explained in an X post that the medical examiner claimed Charlie had bones of steel like Superman which miraculously kept the bullet from exiting his body. Candace later revealed this magic bullet assertion was made by Erika Kirk, not the medical examiner.

Many military vets, snipers, ballistics experts and hunters tried to reenact the alleged shooting using 30-06 bullets but the results always ended in massive blasts in the back of the targeted objects. Those studying the videos in slow motion frame by frame and photos of the hit could clearly see something was happening under Charlie's shirt prior to the appearance of a neck wound. His shirt billowed up in the back, what looked like gas or smoke (Bray says it was gas) was released under his shirt, his shirt was then raised in the front and moved to the left around his neck, and the magnetic clasp shifted to his left.

Bray has painstakingly presented his findings over the past four months on X going into intricate technical and medical detail. He customized software using vector mapping to reveal energy dispersions and trajectories and posted these videos and photos on X along with his lengthy explanations. His basic theory is that the RODE wireless lavalier microphone Charlie wore under his shirt at the UVU event had a shaped charge inside the battery. A circuit board was also in the microphone and was attached to his shirt with a black magnetic clasp which was visible. Bray argues the intention of the assassins was for the microphone to explode onto his chest, causing a shockwave to stop his heart, and for this explosion to simulate a bullet shot into his chest. Thus, the official narrative of a 30-06 bullet would be the cover story.

But something went wrong, according to Jon. The microphone exploded and while the shaped charge injured the upper chamber of his heart, stopping it, and damaged his sternum, the circuit board by mistake propelled to Charlie's left into his shirt collar and the battery thrust into his neck, causing the wound. The battery momentarily blocked the blood, then fell out of his neck along with the gush of blood as seen in the first horrifying video by millions of people when the traumatic incident was livestreamed and later repeatedly replayed. The entry wound was therefore also the exit wound.

This is a video that convinced Bray the circuit board went under Kirk's shirt collar and the battery propelled into his neck:

Depiction of the circuit board:

The device acted like an IED and had the velocity, density and power to create the wound. In the battlefield, soldiers are often killed by the shockwave of an IED without even being touched. Videos show Kirk's wound is the same square shape and size as the battery and reveal a square, small object falling out of his neck. Photos reveal charring on Kirk's shirt and hands, blood on his chest, a bruise on his right armpit and two tiny dots on his right arm.

Bray and others believe the planners needed the sound of a rifle which the audio could not produce in order to replicate their 30-06 bullet cover story. Therefore, he believes in addition an actual rifle shot was fired from a roof (not by Tyler Robinson) and into the fountain beyond the tunnel which is why the walkway above the TPUSA tent was closed off. The planners didn't want to make the mistake of hitting someone on that walkway above the tent. The exploding microphone was used in part because the lesson had been learned from the Butler, PA shooting not to risk a rifle shot that missed its target and killed the wrong person.

Those who understand how the exploding Israeli pagers and walkie talkies worked are very receptive to believing the exploding microphone theory. Many also understand as Daniel Liszt, known as Dark Journalist, does that advanced technology is typically used in political assassinations.

The pagers used by Hezbollah contained small amounts of the explosive compound PETN concealed within their batteries during manufacturing by an Israeli shell company. They were detonated on September 17, 2024 by an encrypted message or coordinated radio frequency signal causing the pagers to beep or alert. This triggered the detonation directly or when users pressed buttons to view the messages, killing at least 12 and injuring thousands.

The walkie talkies were embedded with PETN between cells within the battery pack. A detonator strip was placed between the cells. The battery was enclosed in a black plastic sleeve and metal casing to form an IED. The explosions were triggered remotely via radio frequency signals exploiting the walkie-talkies' built-in communication protocols.

Bray talks about the pagers and walkie talkies at 1:46:00 in his interview two weeks ago with YouTubers Triggersmart and Valhalla:

 youtube

X is still the best aggregated source of news online but is increasingly using algorithms to censor content. Bray complained he was being shadow banned and if you followed him, his posts would never cross your timeline. If you typed in his name or username @jonaaronbray you'd get no results. Results showing posts including his username would pop up and then you had to click on the username.

Many theories emerged attempting to explain how Kirk was assassinated and have been disregarded or declined in support, among them: a palm gun; a projectile fired from Charlie's right or from a drone; a bullet fired from a closer rooftop; a compression gun, a plasma gun, or an Israeli corner shot gun.

In the interview podcaster Shawn Ryan did with Brian Harpole, the TPUSA contracted head of security, the only theory they bothered to attempt to debunk was Bray's exploding microphone theory.

Bray's recent post explains decorticate posturing - the medical explanation for how Charlie's head, arms, hands, legs and torso reacted when the explosion on his chest occurred. Link:

Kirk's physical reaction to the explosion is the best way to debunk the argument still made by some - much to the delight of Charlie's enemies no doubt - that the assassination was faked.

Bray also has his own YouTube channel where he attempted to reenact the event (this experimentation continues):

 youtube.com

Bray has also appeared in lengthy interviews on podcasts hosted on YouTube by independent investigative journalists Triggersmart, Keli Rabon and Stew Peters.

Here is a list of reasons why the exploding microphone theory makes sense:

The location of the TPUSA American Comeback event in the outdoor amphitheater made any audio forensic analysis difficult. The microphone could have been pre-programmed to go off using audio or acoustically triggered. The TPUSA audio team was acting in a peculiar manner that day compared with previous campus events and making repeated audio adjustments. The device could have been detonated by someone in the crowd and a number of individuals have been singled out as the possible culprit. Among potential detonators receiving scrutiny are Rick Cutler, the "security" guy in the beige plaid shirt directly in front of Charlie; Brian Harpole who appeared to be tinkering with an object in his right pocket and consulting with TPUSA security head Dan Flood, the "security" guy who signaled a moment before Charlie was hit; a dude wearing a hat sitting in the trunk of an SUV to Charlie's right; and a guy in the audience wearing a white t-shirt. More than one person could have been involved in a detonation for redundancy purposes in case someone chickened out or to allow for plausible deniability so no one could be absolutely certain he was the one who caused the hit. Many online have irresponsibly stated as fact one or more of these individuals are guilty when in fact these commenters are merely expressing their opinion or speculation. Links showing Cutler:

Was the explosive detonated by passive infrared electronic sensors used for triggering that are resistant to electromagnetic countermeasures ? Was an EMP or a pulsed laser weapon involved?

Where could explosive weapons be tested ? Could it be at Fort Huachuca, the hub for electronic weapons testing:

 kvoa.com

Erika Kirk's mother owns a company that makes military equipment tested at the base:

Candace Owens caused quite a commotion when a guest on her podcast claimed he saw Brian Harpole, Erika Kirk, and Erika's former boyfriend at a hotel near the base on September 8, 2025. The implication was that they participated in some sort of planning meeting with military officials the day before Charlie was assassinated. This interview triggered a massive backlash with attackers calling Owens a psychotic, a demon, and a lying witch.

Evidence buttressing the exploding microphone theory are shards of plastic or glass found first in a photo Candace Owens revealed of the floorboard of the SUV Kirk was shoved into by his "security" team. Coleman picked up on this and concluded these were shards from the microphone explosion and Bray and others have concurred with this conclusion. The released photos showing these shards on Charlies hand, on his "security" team, and elsewhere continue to increase in number. The existence of these shards or shrapnel and the impossibility of being able to capture or collect them may be why four days after the tragic event the grass and dirt under and around the tent was dug up, the area was paved over, and large potted plants were placed on top of the pavement.

Many believe the hands in the disturbing video purportedly showing Erika weeping over her murdered husband in a casket do not belong to Charlie but conveniently distract from the fact that his hands were likely damaged by the explosion and or electrocution. His hands in the video look smaller than her hands (he was 6'5" and in past photos together his hands are much larger than hers) and have an unnatural skin tone.

It is difficult to be absolutely certain about any theory because investigators must depend on videos and photos which may have been edited or tainted through the use of AI. For instance, I've seen videos where the magnetic clasp moves from Charlie's shirt to the right and disappears into his neck. I've also seen videos where the clasp remains on his shirt on the left as you face him. And variations thereof. Candace and Baron Coleman both say they have seen the video from the camera located on the tent wall behind Kirk. One still from that video has been released and it shows no blood but reveals brown spots that look like shards of plastic or glass on his left hand. Video from two other cameras placed in front of and to Charlie's left would no doubt reveal compelling evidence but these videos have not been released to the public.

This video captures the moment the microphone was attached to Charlie's shirt:

The guy who attached the microphone to Charlie's shirt:

Here is a video showing the clasp going into his neck. Link:

This video also shows the clasp going into his neck:

Is this the object that fell out of Kirk's neck?

This post speculates an PETN explosive was involved:

Many links I captured on X over the past few months no longer work or now show an age advisory requiring a log in.

Related to this is the explosion of a manufacturing plant in Tennessee owned by the company Accurate Energetic Systems that had a contract with the Navy with a short period of performance of May-August of 2025 to produce micro shaped charges that many speculate could have been used in Charlie's murder. After Bray's exploding microphone theory began to gain traction, the factory blew up on October 10, 2025, killing 16 workers and demolishing any and all physical evidence.

 bbc.com

If the exploding microphone theory is correct, Tyler Robinson may be wrongly convicted of killing Kirk with a 30-06 bullet. Bray has reached out to the defense team to share his findings but he has received no response. He says they are too busy building a narrative, creating a kangaroo court and calls Robinson, who has not officially confessed to law enforcement or attorneys, a patsy.

Bray also runs a store in Oklahoma with his wife producing and selling wholistic products that are also available through their Blue Mountain Farm web site. I love their salve, tallow lip balm, tallow cream, rescue spray and Skin Regen super tallow cream. If you want some wonderful products and wish to support Jon's work, here is their web site:

 bluemountainfarmok.com

 lewrockwell.com