Outcry on social media after comment praising Charlie Kirk killing draws scrutiny of tech firms
Screenshots of a Facebook comment praising the assassination circulated widely, prompting users to tag Microsoft and Oracle and demand disciplinary action as investigators continue their manhunt.
Social media users pressed Microsoft and Oracle on Thursday after screenshots circulated of a Facebook comment that celebrated the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, drawing calls for disciplinary action and renewed debate over workplace conduct and free speech.
Screenshots posted widely on X showed a comment attributed to Benjamin Van der Zar that read, "Professional hit from a few hundred yards, good job soldier," posted after news reports described the distance between the shooter and Kirk during Wednesday's attack. The images and posts were shared more than a million times, according to visible engagement counts on the original shares, and many users tagged Microsoft and Oracle, asking whether the companies would investigate.
The person identified in the screenshots was described on a public profile as originally from Romania and working for Oracle in Ireland. Daily Mail and other outlets reported that they contacted Microsoft, Oracle and the individual for comment; none had issued an immediate response as of Thursday evening. Posts and replies on X reflected a mix of reactions: some users called for the individual to be fired and labeled the comment "evil," while others raised free-speech concerns about disciplining employees for off-duty speech.
The posts circulated amid active law-enforcement operations following the slaying of Kirk, 31, who was shot while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem at about 12:20 p.m. local time on Wednesday. Officials said a sniper fired from a rooftop roughly 200 yards away; Kirk collapsed after being struck in the neck and was pronounced dead later that afternoon at a nearby hospital.
Federal and local officials disclosed additional details in bulletin and public statements. The FBI said agents recovered what they believe is the weapon used in the killing, described by Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the FBI's Salt Lake City field office, as a "high-powered bolt-action rifle" recovered from a wooded area near the campus. Authorities said they found three unspent rounds in the rifle's magazine and that the bullets bore engraved messaging. A law-enforcement bulletin referenced in reporting by The Wall Street Journal said the bullets contained transgender and anti-fascist wording. The weapon has been sent to an FBI laboratory for further analysis.
Utah public safety chief Beau Mason and other officials said investigators have "good video footage" of the suspect, who was described in early accounts as a man of college age wearing dark clothing and aviator-style sunglasses. Officials said the shooter blended with students on campus shortly before the attack, fled to a nearby wooded area after the shot and may have jumped from a roof. Investigators reported finding palm and footwear prints at the scene and said they had received more than 130 tips as the manhunt continued.
Social-media users pressed technology companies because the screenshots tagging them circulated widely and explicitly referenced corporate affiliations. Some posts called on Microsoft specifically to fire an employee they said had celebrated the killing; others addressed Oracle, which is listed on the public profile visible in some of the screenshots. At least one user who described themselves as a Microsoft customer said they planned to seek alternative cloud providers in response to the posts.
Legal and employment experts note that responses by employers can vary depending on whether speech violates company policy, involves credible threats, or breaches platform rules. Some social-media commentators framed the debate as a clash between condemning speech that celebrates violence and concerns about punishment for off-duty expression.
Authorities urged the public to avoid speculation as the investigation proceeded. The FBI and local law-enforcement agencies did not release the suspect's identity as they continued to collect evidence and tips. Kirk's family confirmed he was married and had two children; officials said investigators continued to piece together the timeline of the shooting and the suspect's movements before and after the attack.
Representatives for Microsoft and Oracle did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The individual identified in the circulating screenshots has not issued a public statement that responding outlets could verify.