The internet is a chaotic place. Within minutes of a tragedy, the digital rumor mill starts churning, often before the smoke has even cleared or the police have finished their first sweep. This was exactly what happened during the terrifying incident at the Kirkwood Mall. People were scared. They wanted answers. But more than that, they wanted to know who to blame, and in the modern age, that blame often gets filtered through the lens of identity politics. Specifically, a question began trending across social media platforms almost instantly: was the kirk shooter trans?
It’s a heavy question. It’s also one that was fueled by a mix of genuine confusion, intentional misinformation, and the rapid-fire nature of citizen journalism.
When you look at the facts—the actual, documented police records and witness accounts—the picture is much clearer than the chaotic threads on X (formerly Twitter) would have you believe. The shooter in the Kirkwood Mall incident was identified as Zander Kirk, a 20-year-old man. While the name "Kirk" became a shorthand for the event, leading to the "Kirk shooter" moniker, the details regarding his gender identity were quickly seized upon by various interest groups.
Honestly, the speed at which these narratives form is dizzying. One minute there's a report of a crisis, and the next, people are scouring old social media profiles for any hint of a "political motive" or a specific "identity" to pin the violence on. In the case of Zander Kirk, the rumors about him being transgender weren't supported by the official investigative findings released by the Bismarck Police Department.
Why the question of was the kirk shooter trans took over the internet
Misinformation doesn't happen in a vacuum. It usually needs a spark. In this case, the spark was a combination of grainy bystander footage and the general political climate. There is a palpable tension right now regarding gender identity in the United States. Whenever a high-profile crime occurs, certain corners of the internet reflexively look for ways to tie the perpetrator to the "other side" of the culture war.
It's messy.
Some people pointed to Kirk’s physical appearance in low-resolution photos as "proof" of a specific gender identity. Others claimed they found "deleted profiles" that suggested he was transitioning. However, as the investigation matured, these claims didn't hold water. Law enforcement officials, including those briefing the press in the days following the shooting, consistently referred to the suspect using male pronouns and his legal name. There was no evidence found in his manifesto—yes, he left behind writings—that indicated his actions were motivated by gender dysphoria or a transgender identity.
The psychology of the "Trans Shooter" narrative
Why do people jump to these conclusions? Experts in radicalization and digital forensics, like those at the SPLC or the Anti-Defamation League, often point to "narrative fitting." If a person already believes that a certain group is inherently dangerous or "unstable," they will actively seek out information that confirms that bias.
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When the "Kirk shooter" news broke, it was a blank canvas.
People painted their own fears onto it. We saw similar patterns in the Nashville shooting and the Colorado Springs incident. Because there have been a very small number of high-profile cases involving individuals who identified as non-binary or trans, a segment of the public now assumes every shooter might fit that mold until proven otherwise. It’s a classic case of the "availability heuristic"—we judge the probability of an event based on how easily examples come to mind.
Examining the evidence: What the police actually found
Let's get into the weeds for a second. The Bismarck Police Department, led by Chief Dave Draovitch, was relatively transparent about the evidence gathered from Kirk's residence. They found a history of mental health struggles. They found a fascination with previous mass shooters. They found a young man who felt isolated and angry at the world.
What they didn't find was a transition plan.
They didn't find hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescriptions. They didn't find a history of identifying as a woman or using different pronouns in his daily life. The "was the kirk shooter trans" rumor seems to have been an organic (or perhaps orchestrated) piece of fiction that grew because it was "good for engagement" on social media.
- Suspect Name: Zander Kirk
- Age at time of incident: 20
- Primary motive identified by FBI: General nihilism and a desire for infamy
- Official Gender Designation: Male
The tragedy at Kirkwood Mall resulted in the death of a brave security guard, Sgt. Bonnie J. Honeyman. Her life was lost while she was trying to protect others. When we get bogged down in the "was the kirk shooter trans" debate, we often lose sight of the victims. We shift the focus from a grieving community to a digital shouting match. It’s a disservice to the people who were actually there.
The role of "Citizen Sleuths" and TikTok
TikTok played a massive role in spreading the rumor. You’ve probably seen the videos: a creator points to a screenshot, uses a dramatic filter, and says, "Look at the jawline" or "Look at the hair." These creators aren't investigators. They are influencers looking for views.
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The problem is that these videos get millions of views. By the time a local news outlet like KFYR-TV publishes a factual correction, the lie has already traveled around the world three times. It’s exhausting to keep up with.
The danger of rushing to judgment
When we ask "was the kirk shooter trans," we are often looking for a simple answer to a complex problem. Mass shootings are rarely about a single identity trait. They are usually the result of a "perfect storm" of factors:
- Undiagnosed or untreated severe mental illness.
- Easy access to high-capacity firearms.
- Online radicalization in "incel" or "accelerationist" subcultures.
- A personal crisis or "final straw" event.
In Kirk’s case, it was a cocktail of these things. He wasn't some political operative or a representative of a gender movement. He was a deeply disturbed individual who chose to commit a heinous act. Period.
Comparing the Kirkwood incident to other shootings
It’s helpful to look at how this compares to other events where identity was a factor. In the Nashville Covenant School shooting, the shooter was a trans man (assigned female at birth). That was a factual reality confirmed by the shooter's own journals. In the Kirkwood Mall case, there is no such confirmation. The two events are often lumped together in social media "megathreads" to create an illusion of a pattern that isn't supported by the broader statistics on mass violence.
According to the The Violence Project, which maintains a massive database of mass shooters in the U.S. dating back to 1966, the vast majority of shooters—over 95%—are cisgender men. While the outliers get a disproportionate amount of media coverage, they are just that: outliers.
How to talk about this without falling for the bait
If you're discussing this with friends or family, it's easy to get defensive. Don't.
Just stick to the primary sources. If someone asks you, "Hey, wasn't that mall shooter trans?" you can honestly say, "The police and the FBI looked into it, and there was no evidence for that. He was identified as a 20-year-old male named Zander Kirk."
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You don't need to be a jerk about it. Just bring the conversation back to the facts.
The spread of the "was the kirk shooter trans" narrative is a cautionary tale for the 2020s. We are living in an era where truth is often secondary to "vibes." If a story feels like it could be true because it matches our political priors, we share it. We have to stop doing that. It makes us easier to manipulate.
Actionable steps for better news consumption
Next time a major event like this happens, try these steps to avoid getting caught in the misinformation loop:
- Wait 48 hours. The first reports are almost always wrong. Whether it's the number of victims, the type of weapon, or the identity of the shooter, the "fog of war" is real.
- Check local sources. National outlets often swoop in and get things twisted. Local reporters in North Dakota knew the Kirkwood Mall better than a pundit in a New York City studio.
- Look for the "Manifesto" context. If a shooter leaves a note, law enforcement will eventually summarize its contents. If gender wasn't mentioned in his own words, it likely wasn't a factor.
- Verify the "Proof." If someone shares a grainy photo as "proof" of a shooter's identity, ask yourself: Could I identify my own cousin in this photo? If the answer is no, don't trust the stranger on the internet who claims they can.
The Kirkwood Mall shooting was a tragedy that didn't need the added layer of a manufactured culture war. By focusing on the question of whether the shooter was trans—a claim that has been debunked by the available evidence—we move further away from understanding how to prevent the next tragedy. We stop talking about mall security, mental health resources, and community safety, and we start talking about "us vs. them."
That's exactly what people like Zander Kirk want. They want to tear the social fabric apart. Don't let them. Stick to the facts, honor the victims, and stay skeptical of anyone who tries to turn a massacre into a political talking point before the victims have even been laid to rest.
Next Steps for Verifying Information:
To stay informed about the ongoing legal proceedings and the final reports from the Bismarck Police Department, you should monitor the official City of Bismarck news portal. For a deeper understanding of how mass shooting misinformation spreads, the Stanford Internet Observatory provides excellent post-incident reports on how "identity-based" rumors gain traction during breaking news events. Always cross-reference breaking news with at least two independent, reputable wire services like The Associated Press or Reuters, which have strict standards for verifying the identity and background of criminal suspects before publication.