The tragic death of activist Charlie Kirk during a rally at Utah Valley University has left many searching for answers — not only about the attack itself, but also about the strange final moments caught on camera. Footage from the September 10 event shows Kirk suddenly raising his arms after being struck in the neck, before collapsing to the ground. While the movement has puzzled viewers online, a neuroscientist has now broken down the science behind why his body reacted that way in his final seconds.

Neuropsychologist Derek Van Schaik explained that the gesture was not the result of conscious awareness or panic, but rather an automatic defensive reflex. “Many assumed the movement was a sign of decorticate posturing, which happens when higher brain areas are severely damaged,” he noted. “But in this case, the loss of blood to the brain would have caused rapid unconsciousness, leaving no time for that kind of reaction.” Instead, he said Kirk’s arms moved upward involuntarily, similar to how the body might flinch in moments of sudden danger.

Van Schaik emphasized that Kirk likely did not process what had happened to him at all. By reviewing the video frame by frame, he concluded the 31-year-old remained conscious for less than half a second after the gunshot — far too little time for his brain to register fear or pain. “There was no dread, no panic,” he explained. “The blackout was immediate, and neurologically it was impossible for him to realise what had occurred.”

The neuroscientist’s analysis has offered some measure of closure to those disturbed by the footage, suggesting Kirk did not suffer in his final moments. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been taken into custody in connection with the killing and now faces multiple charges. As the case moves toward trial, the science behind Kirk’s final seconds provides a rare glimpse into how the human body reacts in moments of extreme trauma — and why his last movement was not one of fear, but of reflex.