This week on Crime Roundup, former Secret Service agent Jim Rathmann joins Sheryl McCollum to examine the assassination of Charlie Kirk and what it reveals about growing security threats in the United States. Using his protection and weapons expertise, Rathmann walks through the timeline of the attack, analyzes the shooter’s behavior, and highlights security failures that left both the speaker and crowd exposed. Sheryl and Jim also discuss the rise of copycat violence, the role of online misinformation, and the ethical consequences of political extremism.

 

Highlights:

• (0:00) Sheryl opens with a breakdown of the Charlie Kirk assassination timeline
• (2:15) Jim Rathmann joins the show and discusses early video footage, crowd reactions, and the shot trajectory
• (6:30) Was it a professional hit or an untrained attack? Breaking down shot placement and rooftop tactics
• (8:30) Copycats and connections: what this attack has in common with others
• (14:15) "That guy looks like my doppelganger”: the suspect’s online posts and chat group confession
• (15:45) A father's choice to turn in his son and the aftermath for two families
• (19:30) Security failures, skipped steps, and countermeasures needed for the safety of future public events
• (21:45) Political differences, free speech, and finding a moral compass
• (25:45) Debunking conspiracy theories, online speculation, and viral misinformation
• (32:15) Sheryl commends law enforcement’s 16-minute response and coordinated effort
• (34:45) Future threats: desperation for attention and the risk of copycats
• (37:00) Sheryl wraps the show with some good news: Jim’s son Ethan’s baseball success

 

About the Hosts

Joshua Schiffer is a veteran trial attorney and one of the Southeast’s most respected legal voices. He is a founding partner at ChancoSchiffer P.C., where he has litigated high-stakes criminal, civil rights, and personal injury cases for over two decades. Known for his bold courtroom presence and ability to clearly explain complex legal issues, Schiffer is a frequent media contributor and a fearless advocate for accountability.

Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award-winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnline, a forensic and crime scene expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and co-author of the textbook Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. She is the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a national collaboration that advances techniques for solving cold cases and assists families and law enforcement with unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnappings.

 

🎧 Want more from Sheryl?

Catch her every week on the Zone 7 podcast, where she hosts the main series on Wednesdays, Pathology with Dr. Priya on Mondays, and Crime Roundup each Friday alongside Joshua Schiffer.

 

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• Joshua on X and Instagram: @lawyerschiff

 

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