Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika holds hands with Usha Vance as they bring his body home to Arizona
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: It was a somber scene as Air Force Two touched down carrying the body of slain right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk from Utah to his home state of Arizona. Usha Vance was there to comfort Kirk’s widow, Erika, as they deplaned.
Both women were dressed head-to-toe in black and shielded their eyes with dark sunglasses as they walked slowly off the aircraft, with JD Vance trailing behind. Erika, 36, kept her head down while Usha gently put an arm around her, guiding the mourning mother-of-two down the steps.
The second lady even gestured toward the distance before clasping Erika’s hand, the two women walking side by side, hand-in-hand, as they touched Arizona soil.
On board with them were Kirk’s two young children and his parents, who had endured the unthinkable sight of watching their beloved son be murdered in front of them. National Guard members carried his mahogany coffin as the family followed behind.
Trump to attend funeral amid investigation
A funeral is now planned for next week. President Donald Trump has already confirmed he’ll be there, saying he spoke directly with Erika and that she is “devastated, absolutely devastated.”
Vance himself also shared a powerful tribute to Kirk, describing him as a “true friend” and “the kind of guy you could say something to and know it would always stay with him.”
Kir was just 31 when he was killed in front of more than 3,000 people at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. He was addressing a prompt about mass shootings when a single bullet tore through his neck.
Chaos erupted instantly as the gunfire cracked across the crowd. Blood poured from Kirk’s neck, and terrified attendees ducked down before bolting in every direction, desperately fleeing the scene.
Investigators now believe the fatal shot was fired from the top of the Losee Center on the Orem campus, about 200 feet away from the tent where Kirk was seated.
The hunt for a suspect
Authorities have released photos of a “person of interest” that show a slim-built man wearing a snapback, sunglasses, long pants, and a long-sleeved top emblazoned with a bald eagle flying across an American flag. The words across it read, “Land of the Free… Home of the Brave.”
Little else is known, though Utah DPS Commissioner Beau Mason said the shooter “appears to be of college age” and “blended in well with the college institution.” Mason added, “We’re not releasing many details right now. We will soon. But right now, we’re not.”
Security footage from Thursday night showed the suspect leaping from a campus rooftop and bolting into the dark.
The FBI has put up a $100,000 reward for any information leading to his arrest. Governor Spencer Cox confirmed that more than 200 people have already been interviewed in what he called a thorough probe.
Chilling evidence
Investigators have uncovered disturbing evidence tied to the shooting. According to a memo seen by the Wall Street Journal, bullets fired from a Mauser rifle had been “engraved with transgender and antifascist ideology.”
The weapon itself was reportedly wrapped in a towel, with a spent cartridge still in the chamber. Three more unspent rounds were discovered in the magazine, each containing written messages. Investigators are yet to disclose the exact words.
A separate bolt-action rifle was also found in a wooded area near the campus, which authorities now believe was the murder weapon.
While the FBI has yet to declare a motive, Trump told reporters that he already has an idea about what drove the gunman.
“We’ll let you know about that later,” he said, adding that investigators are making “big progress.”
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