Overview of #254 — Brian Harpole on Shawn Ryan’s Vigilance Elite
Brian Harpole, head of Charlie Kirk’s contracted security detail and founder of Integrity Security Solutions, gives an on-the-record account of the September 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk. Harpole explains his team’s vetting and training practices, the advance work and security layout for the event, the immediate medical and exfil response after the shot, what evidence was and wasn’t available to them, and addresses widespread online conspiracy theories. He asks for transparency (FOIA requests) and pushes back on misinformation that has harmed his team.
Guest background (why he’s credible)
- Former Texas police officer (14 years), Master Peace Officer (TX), extensive advanced training.
- Private security operator since 2008; created Integrity Security Solutions (started 2022) and personally protected Charlie Kirk for ~7 years.
- Contractor experience across 39 countries and in austere environments (including NGO missions into Mexico/Juárez and anti-trafficking work).
- Integrity’s hiring: candidates must be sponsored by an existing team member, complete a rigorous training pipeline, then receive a team thumbs‑up; ongoing mandatory training (policy: 40 hrs/yr minimum; many get 200–400 hrs/yr).
- Team composition: former SEALs, SWAT, Marines, jiu‑jitsu instructors — but Harpole emphasizes character and teamwork over pedigree.
Security philosophy, structure, and specific preparations for the UVU event
- Advance/intel timeline: formal workup began with information-sharing on the 24th of the month prior; continuous decentralized intel app used to timestamp and distribute data to every team member.
- Core principles: concentric security zones (non‑permeable → semi → bubble around protectee), “evade and escape” priority over direct confrontation, layered physical barriers and personnel, overlapping areas of responsibility.
- Specific measures at the Utah Valley University venue:
- Vehicle barricades stacked behind the stage (as vehicle barriers).
- Linked hard bike racks as perimeter control.
- Double “presidential‑style” barricades with a kept gap for access and public interaction — gap covered by two specialists (one high‑strength, one jiu‑jitsu) plus flanking violence‑response personnel.
- Plainclothes security operatives embedded in the crowd to look for pre‑incident indicators (prey gaze, lack of socialization, backpacks, odd movement).
- Pre‑planned exfil and casualty routes with NAV/driving specialists; nearest hospital (level III) identified and route rehearsed.
- Staffing: team increased from typical 8–9 to 12 (plus a 13th), i.e., Harpole says they “upped” manpower for prevention.
What happened when the shooting occurred — timeline and actions
- Harpole’s account of the critical timeline:
- Shot heard (Harple attributes sound as rifle and reports hearing the “bullet slap” as it hit Charlie).
- Harpole: on Charlie within ~5 seconds, placed direct pressure into wound, recognized wound as “bad/incompatible with life.”
- Harpole ordered “prep the car.” He estimates ~15–16 seconds between shot and team lifting Charlie for exfil.
- Team placed massive dressings and hemostatic gauze, carried Charlie to a pre‑staged vehicle (doors open), and executed a high‑speed exfil to the hospital (no lights/sirens; team broke intersections themselves).
- Inside the vehicle Harpole continued hemorrhage control while kneeling with the vehicle door open; team drove rapidly to hospital; they arrived and wheeled Charlie inside.
- Harpole reports hospital staff got a pulse and took him to the OR, but Charlie subsequently did not survive — an autopsy was performed.
Medical details (Harpole’s actions, what he saw)
- Harpole’s direct treatment: immediate direct pressure into neck wound, continual packing with dressings and hemostatic gauze, many layers applied in transport.
- He recalls being covered in blood; he cleaned Charlie’s wound area (removed shirt) to enable hospital staff to use monitors/defibrillator/drugs.
- Harpole: no clear exit wound visible; autopsy reportedly found bullet trajectory that struck and shattered vertebrae (Harpole references the OR doc saying the bullet hit vertebrae — reported as C6 in the interview).
- He stresses the medical realities: on‑scene care must prioritize leaving the “X” and transporting if scene is still potentially dangerous; many rounds and possible secondary threats were expected immediately after a shot.
Evidence, FOIAs and transparency requests Harpole demands
Harpole repeatedly calls for official transparency and FOIA requests. He suggests specific items the public should request or that investigators should release:
- FOIA the communications and phone records of UVU PD leadership (Chief Long) and the university regarding rooftop access, pre‑event coordination, and the line “I’ve got you covered” (Harpole says he has the text).
- FOIA/doc requests for the university’s permit and justification to place the stage where it was, plus any documentation explaining the decision to quickly “tear up/pave over” the crime scene area after the incident.
- Release/FOIA: police drone logs, who had drones airborne that day, and whether UVU/PD drone assets were used.
- Full autopsy report and ME records (Harpole: there was an autopsy; get the official medical examiner documentation).
- Shooter’s phone logs/tower hits, timeline of when the shooter accessed rooftop positions, chain of custody and location of the rifle when found, and footage of the shooter’s approach.
- Forensic chain of custody for all audio/visual footage submitted to investigators (Harpole says the AV operator turned over footage to the FBI).
What Harpole says about common conspiracies
Harpole addresses and denies several persistent theories:
- Mossad/foreign intelligence involvement: emphatic denial; “no ties to Israel or Mossad” among his team; he says they are Americans and would have no motive or time to conspire.
- Internal betrayal / Turning Point staff involvement: denies knowledge of any internal conspiracy or “inside job”; insists team and Turning Point (via Dan) shared intel as usual and that nothing credible suggested an insider plot.
- Hand/arm signal conspiracies: Harpole says hand signals are used sparingly, are definitive when used, and were not used in any secretive way that day; much of the social media analysis is speculation.
- Explosive microphone / bomb theories: Harpole rejects these views based on his medical observations — he reports no burn marks, flash, or other signs consistent with a close‑range device explosion; he also cut Charlie’s shirt off and would have seen burn/char. He urges skeptics to look for forensic evidence rather than frame‑by‑frame speculation.
- Claims footage was hidden or destroyed: Harpole says the AV operator (contractor) turned footage over to the FBI; team members did not destroy evidence.
Notable procedural criticisms Harpole raises
- Lack of campus police/drones utilization: Harpole says he asked UVU if roof access could be locked down and the campus chief replied “I’ve got you covered.” He later learned UVU had not requested Orem PD drone assistance and that the rooftop oversight was not deployed as he expected. He calls for FOIA on those communications.
- Quick demolition/covering of the crime scene: Harpole questions the urgency and paperwork around the decision to tear up and pave the scene; he insists there must be documentation and wants that released.
- Public communication: Harpole supports selective evidence release that does not jeopardize prosecution but urges more transparency to reduce conspiracy-fueled harm to victims, staff, and security personnel.
Evidence Harpole says exists and was shared with authorities
- Security footage (team and campus cameras) is in FBI hands — Harpole supports controlled release but calls for more public explanation.
- The AV contractor’s footage (the operator who was running cameras) was turned over to the FBI; an audio/video team member recorded the chaos and posted a short clip immediately after (a videographer captured, and later removed, footage).
- Harpole claims the autopsy was performed; ME transfer occurred that night.
Misinformation impacts Harpole emphasizes
- Team members and families have been doxxed, threatened, had credit cards compromised, wedding plans and addresses posted online.
- Harpole argues that sensationalized or monetized speculation causes real harm and that those making factual claims must produce evidence.
- He calls for responsible reporting and for social platforms to limit the profit signal for sensational lies.
Practical requests Harpole recommends the public/lawyers/investigators make
- FOIA requests for:
- UVU PD / Chief Long communications about rooftop access, pre‑event coordination, and the “cover” message chain.
- School permit paperwork and any documents authorizing the site layout and subsequent site remediation (tearing/paving).
- Medical examiner records and autopsy documentation when available.
- Police drone logs and mutual aid requests or denials.
- Subpoenas (investigative) for:
- Shooter phone/tower records.
- Chain of custody and forensic analysis of the rifle recovered (how/where it was found and if it was reassembled).
- All AV footage and SD card custody logs.
Key takeaways
- Harpole defends his team’s training, discipline, and actions: immediate medical response, coordinated exfil, rapid transport to hospital with continuous hemorrhage control.
- He insists an autopsy was performed, that the bullet hit vertebrae, and that many online theories (explosive device on mic, Mossad, insider assassination) lack forensic support.
- Harpole urges transparency from institutions (UVU, local PD, ME) and calls for FOIAs to clarify specific issues (roof access, drone use, rapid site remediation).
- He denounces monetized misinformation and says those feeding conspiracies have injured the grieving, made security careers harder, and endangered families.
Notable quotes
- “If the truth gets out there wrong, it could hurt their 20 more years of work… that’s not fair.”
- “We’re a prevention industry, not a response industry — but prevention takes resources and manpower.”
- “If you’re going to make the claim that one of my guys conspired to kill somebody, back it up with the truth — not speculation.”
- “The truth’s like a line. You set it free and it’ll pop for itself.”
Final recommended actions (for readers who want answers)
- File FOIA requests for:
- UVU/UVU PD communications around rooftop access and site control (Chief Long).
- Permits/site plans and records for the location and any subsequent remediation.
- Medical examiner/autopsy records (when released).
- Drone logs and mutual aid agreements.
- Demand release (or summary release) of official evidence statements that do not jeopardize prosecution but can clarify key factual disputes (autopsy findings, rifle recovery/chain of custody, shooter phone/tower logs).
- Avoid amplifying unverified claims; prioritize forensic evidence and official records.
This summary captures the factual assertions Harpole made on the show, the procedural and evidentiary questions he raised, and the specific transparency steps he urged.