Topics: Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump, US News, Crime, Politics, News
The wife of Charlie Kirk is 'devastated' following the right-wing activist's assassination yesterday.
Kirk, one of Donald Trump's closest allies, was attending a college rally in Utah on Wednesday (10 September), which marked the first day of his 'The American Comeback Tour', which was supposed to see Kirk go on to visit a further 14 universities in the coming weeks.
The string of debates formed part of the 31-year-old's Turning Point USA movement - a campaign he founded in 2012 to challenge students at left-leaning educational facilities to debate him on a number of complex topics.
Raised on Christian principles and traditionalist views on society, Kirk has long voiced his anti-abortion, anti-trans, and anti-gay marriage views, as well as his disbelief to climate change, his support of Israel in Gaza, and his contempt of progressive 'woke' groups.
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Appearing at Utah Valley University with the intention of debating with its students, Kirk's was struck by a gunman who fired a single bullet through his neck as he attempted to answer a question.
In the presence of 3,000 onlookers, Kirk could be seen recoiling in his chair and falling to the ground.
Despite later being rushed to hospital, Trump later confirmed that the conservative had died.
An update released by the FBI earlier today heard Beau Mason, the commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety shed light on where the investigation currently stands, revealing the FBI have tracked the movements of the shooter, who 'appears to be of college age'.
Speaking in a press conference, he explained: "After the shooting, we were able to track his movements as he moved to the other side of the building, jumped off of the building and fled, off of the campus and into a neighbourhood."
Mason also spoke on behalf of Kirk's wife Erika Frantzve, telling press: "The family are devastated."
Of the businesswoman and her two children, he continued: "I can only imagine what they're going through.
"This is not Utah. This is not what we are known for."
Kirk and Frantzve - who also worked as a podcast host and philanthropist, as well as a former Miss Arizona - shared a daughter, born August 2022, and a son, born May 2024, together.
The trio were in attendance at yesterday's rally, having been stood near to the conservative at the time of his brutal killing.
"Pray for [Kirk] his wife Erika, their two children, and all who were present at Utah Valley University," Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin previously wrote on X.
Standing alongside Mason today, FBI agent Robert Bohls also confirmed his team had located a gun that they believed was used to kill Kirk.
"I can tell you that we have recovered what we believe is the weapon to be that was used in yesterday's shooting is a high powered bolt action rifle," he explained. "That rifle was was recovered in a wooded area where the shooter had fled.
"The FBI laboratory will be analysing this weapon."
Hours prior to her husband's assassination, Frantzve shared an eerie post on X - a Psalm from the Bible about 'help in trouble'.
The mother-of-two shared the post at 10.45am, (5.45pm BST), less than two hours before Kirk was fatally shot.
"Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," it read.
A number of politicians from both the left and the right have since issued Frantzve their condolences, including Trump, who mentioned her in his initial Truth Social message.
"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie," he wrote on Truth Social, confirming the activist had been killed.
"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"
Democratic predecessor to the Trump administration, Joe Biden also penned on X: "There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk's family and loved ones."
"Now that Charlie is in heaven, I'll ask him to talk to big man directly on behalf of his family, his friends, and the country he loved so dearly," Vice President, JD Vance, added. "You ran a good race, my friend. We've got it from here."
Former Democratic president, Barack Obama continued: "This kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie's family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children."
According to the BBC, Trump will meet with Frantzve this afternoon.
Speaking at a 9/11 memorial service at the Pentagon earlier today, he told attendees, unprompted: "I can't believe Charlie. What a great guy he was," before being asked if he had plans to meet the his family.
Trump replied that he 'has it set for this afternoon', adding that they'll be 'talking about' bringing the country together 'very soon'.
"We will be discussing [that]. You don't replace a Charlie Kirk," Trump continued. "He's unique, as you all know...but, we'll do the best we can."
