"You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife, the cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry," said Erika Kirk, the wife of slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, in her first public message since his killing.
Just days after a gunman shot and killed Kirk at a Utah university, Erika Kirk addressed her husband's supporters and the nation as a whole, saying she would continue Charlie Kirk's political activism through his Turning Point USA organization.
It is Friday night and the big story in
action news is the latest developments
into the assassination of conservative
activist Charlie Kirk. Tonight, his
widow broke her silence, honoring her
husband and vowing to carry on his
legacy.
Two days ago, my husband Charlie went to
see the face of his savior and his God.
Charlie always said that when he was
gone, he he wanted to be remembered
for his courage and for his faith. And
in a world filled with chaos, doubt, and
uncertainty, my husband's voice will
remain, and it will ring out louder and
more clearly than ever,
and his wisdom will endure.
Her statement comes hours after federal
investigators arrested this man,
22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Investigators are still digging into his
background tonight. He comes from a
middleclass Mormon family. His mother is
a social worker. His father ran a
kitchen countertop business. ABC's
Jacqueline Lee is in Utah with the new
developments.
For the first time, the widow of
political activist Charlie Kirk is
speaking out.
To everyone listening tonight across
America, the movement my husband built
will not die. It won't. I refuse to let
that happen.
Officials now say 22-year-old Tyler
Robinson is the suspect who fired a
single shot from the roof of Utah Valley
University on Wednesday, killing Kirk.
A family member of Tyler Robinson
reached out to a family friend who
contacted the Washington County
Sheriff's Office with information that
Robinson had confessed to them or
implied that he had committed the
incident. In the hours before his
arrest, officials say investigators
identified Robinson as the suspect in
surveillance footage. They described
seeing him walk with an unusual limp,
which they believe was caused by a rifle
hidden under his clothes. An affidavit
also notes that when Robinson stood up
from his shooting position and ran
across the rooftop, his limp was absent.
How did you feel when they announced
they got the suspect?
Um, I think relieved is probably the
best word. Um, I'm glad that they they
got him and he'll be on the way.
Investigators say they spoke with family
members who said Robinson had become
more political in recent years and one
referenced an incident where Robinson
spoke with a family member about Charlie
Kirk coming to Utah Valley University.
Katon Brooksby, who attended 6th grade
through 12th grade with the suspect,
spoke exclusively with ABC News over
Zoom Friday afternoon. He says he was
stunned to hear about the arrest.
It it really just caught me off guard. I
was walking my dog and I saw the picture
come through and I I knew him
immediately and I just I couldn't
believe that it was him, especially, you
know, knowing him in high school. He
wasn't any sort of, you know, person
that I would anticipate to be doing
something like this. So, I mean, just
utter shock.
The Utah County Attorney's Office will
be reviewing evidence over the next few
days and is expected to bring charges as
early as next week. Jaclyn Lee, ABC
News, Oram, Utah.
