How do conspiracy theorists explain the discrepancies in the Kirk assassination evidence?

1. “The bullets don’t add up” — how casing inscriptions became a central claim

Conspiracy accounts seized on the inscriptions carved into bullet casings as evidence of ritual, messaging, or broader group affiliation; reporting shows the casings contained taunting, anti‑fascist and meme‑culture messaging and investigators treated the markings as a lead into the accused killer’s subculture rather than proof of a multinational plot ^{[1] [5] [6]}.

2. “Where’s the exit wound?” — medical detail turned into mystery

Online skeptics highlighted discussions about the lack of a visible exit wound to suggest a staged death or body double; Turning Point USA relayed a surgeon’s explanation that bone density and the coroner’s finding of a bullet beneath the skin addressed that question, and Axios reports the coroner did find the bullet — a medical clarification repeatedly cited against the conspiracy framing ^[2].

3. “Pre‑written books and AI slop” — timing of publications as supposed proof of a psyop

Social posts pointed to Amazon listings and a book that appeared to predate the shooting as proof of foreknowledge; AFP’s fact‑check reported that such listings often reflect low‑quality, likely AI‑generated content and that prior examples of similar “early” listings have been debunked, undermining claims that book listings prove orchestration ^[4].

4. “Too many motives fit” — Israel, Mossad and antisemitic reframings

Some theorists invoked Israeli or Mossad involvement, recycling classic antisemitic tropes; multiple outlets and watchdogs note those assertions are baseless and rooted in long‑standing antisemitic myths rather than corroborating evidence, and prominent Israeli officials publicly rejected such claims ^{[7] [8] [3]}.

5. “The shooter didn’t act alone” — MAGA network amplification

MAGA influencers and some in the Trump orbit pushed theories of accomplices or organized campaigns and encouraged treating online clues as live leads; Axios documents how that ecosystem has steered official attention toward a wide range of theories (hand signals, Discord chats, staged texts) even while the FBI emphasized fact‑based investigation and a suspect charged in custody ^[2].

6. Social media churn and misinformation dynamics

Journalistic and research accounts explain why these theories spread: graphic footage, political polarization, and fast‑moving social platforms create fertile ground for rapid conjecture; Wired and CNN analyze how grief and outrage amplify conspiratorial narratives and how false photos and wild claims circulated within hours of the shooting ^{[9] [3]}.

7. What investigators say versus what theorists claim

Authorities say the accused confessed and forensic links (DNA, rifle) tie him to the shooting, and the FBI has publicly listed and is investigating multiple claims while cautioning against premature conclusions; fact‑checks and mainstream outlets report that many viral allegations lack evidentiary support ^{[10] [3] [2]}.

8. Competing narratives and the role of political actors

High‑profile commentators — from Candace Owens to Tucker Carlson and others — have either amplified alternative narratives or suggested betrayal, keeping conspiratorial frames in public view; some of these figures present personal or partisan incentives to question the official account, a dynamic reporters flag as a driver of persistent speculation ^{[11] [7] [1]}.

Limitations and final context: Available sources document the claims, the investigative responses, and multiple fact‑checks but do not — in the provided reporting — prove a broader conspiracy or completely rule out every alternate hypothesis; they do show how symbolic evidence (bullet inscriptions, book listings, wound descriptions) became focal points for competing stories and how political actors helped amplify them ^{[4] [5] [1]}.