Social Media Falls Into Well Worn Grooves After Charlie Kirk’s Death

A graphic video of a fatal shooting, followed by a succession of videos showing the victim praising gun rights. Posts calling for prayers and quick rejections of those sentiments. Clips of social media users making dark jokes about a violent event and others predicting the start of a civil war.

Scrolling online in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday afternoon offered a feeling of whiplash as raw footage of the event collided with pointed reactions from users across the political spectrum.

Mr. Kirk, the founder of the conservative political group Turning Point USA was fatally shot while speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, as he spoke to a crowd assembled at an outdoor space. The event was the first stop on Mr. Kirk’s American Comeback Tour, with stops scheduled at college campuses throughout the fall.