Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of youth organisation Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck on September 10, 2025, while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. The 31-year-old, who was a close political ally of former US President Donald Trump, was addressing a crowd of about 3,000 people in an outdoor courtyard when the attack took place.
According to BBC reports, Kirk had just started one of his trademark debate-style speeches when a silhouette dressed in dark clothing appeared on the roof and opened fire. Videos of the shocking moment spread rapidly on social media, creating panic among students and attendees. The university was immediately evacuated and closed as police launched a search for the shooter. On September 12, authorities confirmed the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson after a manhunt that lasted more than 24 hours. News of Kirk’s death has left both political circles and student communities across the country in shock.
But beyond his high-profile political presence, Charlie Kirk was simply a husband and dad. He kept his personal life private, but here’s a glimpse into the family he built with his wife Erika and their two little ones.
Charlie Kirk’s early life
Born on October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Chicago, Kirk grew up in Prospect Heights. His father, Robert W. Kirk, worked as an architect and contributed to the construction of Trump Tower in Manhattan, while his mother initially worked as a trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange before becoming a mental health counsellor, as per ABC news.
As per The USA Today, Kirk’s political career began in his teens and by his early 20s he had founded Turning Point USA, a conservative youth movement that expanded nationwide. Despite his growing influence, Kirk often emphasized the importance of family and faith, values that carried into his personal life.
How did Charlie Kirk and Erika Frantzve meet?
In 2018, Kirk met Erika Frantzve, a fellow evangelical Christian, during a trip to New York City. As per her website, Erika, then 36, had already built a name for herself as Miss Arizona USA 2012 and was actively involved in charitable and faith-driven initiatives.
Their first date, which took place at Bill’s Burgers in Manhattan, became a story the couple often shared publicly. Erika once recalled how their conversation went on for hours, covering theology, philosophy, and politics. At the end of the night, Kirk looked at her and said, “I’m going to date you.”
Just two years later, in December 2020, Kirk proposed. By May 2021, the couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Scottsdale, Arizona, surrounded only by close family and friends. According to the Arizona Republic, the wedding was ‘very intimate,’ with no bridesmaids or groomsmen, just those closest to the couple.
Erika Kirk’s career and faith work
Apart from being known as Charlie Kirk’s wife, Erika Frantzve Kirk has pursued multiple ventures. As per her official website, she has founded Everyday Heroes Like You, a nonprofit supporting overlooked charities, and launched the Midweek Rise Up podcast. She also runs BIBLE365, a ministry program, along with PROCLAIM, a faith-based clothing line.
Currently, Erika is pursuing her doctorate in Biblical Studies at Liberty University. She has been open about her Christian faith and often shared advice about marriage, family, and resilience in interviews and podcasts.
In a 2024 appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show, Erika talked about the importance of teamwork in marriage. She said, “You have to continually invest in the confidence in one another, that you’re on the same team. You support each other. You love each other. You’re not going to undercut each other.”
Charlie and Erika Kirk’s life as parents
Charlie and Erika welcomed their first child, a daughter, in August 2022. Their son followed in May 2024. By 2025, their daughter was three years old and their son had just turned one.
As per The USA Today, the couple deliberately chose to shield their children from the spotlight. They never revealed their names and rarely shared their faces online. In June 2025, just months before his death, Kirk told his audience, “We have a girl and a boy, and it’s no one’s business what their names are or their faces.”
This decision showed their desire to give their children as normal a childhood as possible, away from the scrutiny of political debates and media attention.
Erika’s tribute to Charlie
On her Instagram, Erika often posted tributes to her husband, describing him as a fearless leader and a devoted family man. “My husband Charlie Kirk is a force. He is bold when the world demands silence, he is fearless where others flinch, and he has taken on the battle of the next generation, changing these hearts and minds,” she wrote in one video post.
Just months before the tragedy, the couple celebrated the seventh anniversary of their first date. In a heartfelt 2023 post, Erika shared their beginnings, “Five years ago today, we sat inside Bill’s Burgers in NYC deep in conversation… and at the end, you paused, looked at me, and said, ‘I’m going to date you.’”
Kirk’s sudden death has not only left a void in American conservative politics but also in his young family’s life. At just 31, he leaves behind a wife and two small children who now face life without him.
Despite his prominence, Charlie Kirk worked to separate his public persona from his private life. To his supporters, he was a passionate debater and youth leader. To his wife Erika and their children, he was a husband and father who valued faith, love, and family above all else.
