That moment now carries a tragic weight. Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University during his American Comeback Tour. He had just addressed a question about mass shootings when chaos erupted. Rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead two hours later.
The FBI and Utah law enforcement are actively pursuing the gunman. The attack came after more than 6,000 students signed a petition opposing Kirk’s appearance, highlighting the deeply polarizing nature of his activism.
Kirk’s rise began in 2012, when he co-founded Turning Point USA as a teenager. By his early twenties, he had spoken at both the 2016 and 2020 Republican National Conventions. Over the next decade, he built Turning Point into the nation’s largest conservative youth network, with thousands of campus chapters and initiatives such as Turning Point Faith and Turning Point Academy. Supporters credit him with inspiring a new generation of conservatives and playing a pivotal role in Donald Trump’s election victories in 2016 and 2024.
For Erika, a former Miss Arizona USA, and their two children—a daughter and a 16-month-old son—the loss is intensely personal. The couple had just celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May. While tributes pour in, including from President Trump, who hailed Kirk as “The Great, and even Legendary,” it is the private image of a father’s embrace that will remain etched in their hearts forever.