The widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has vowed to carry on his legacy after U.S. authorities confirmed the capture of his alleged assassin. Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced on Friday that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson had been identified from security camera footage and turned in by his own father. Kirk, 31, was shot dead by a single bullet while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday.
In an emotional video address, Erika Kirk described her late husband as “the perfect father … the perfect husband” and said his killers had “no idea the fire they have ignited.” Fighting back tears, she thanked President Donald Trump for his support, pledging to continue Charlie’s work through his campus tours, radio show, and podcast.
Kirk was a polarizing figure on the U.S. right, widely admired among young conservatives and instrumental in mobilizing support for Trump’s election victory last November. While his hardline views on race, gender, and gun rights made him a divisive personality, even critics acknowledged his willingness to debate opponents head-on. His death has left a major void in Republican grassroots activism.