Charlie Kirk's wife Erika quoted Bible verse just before UVU shooting: ‘God is our refuge’

Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and close Trump ally, died on Wednesday after being shot during a Utah University event

Updated on: Sep 11, 2025, 02:45:36 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and close Trump ally, died on Wednesday after being shot during a Utah University event. The president confirmed the 31-year-old's passing with a post on Truth Social.

Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA founder, puts on a MAGA hat during the AmericaFest 2024 conference (REUTERS)

Trump wrote: "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 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!”

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,” Vice President JD Vance tweeted.

Kirk is survived by his wife Erika and two children. The MAGA influencer's wife quoted a verse from the Bible just before the UVU shooting.

“Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” Erika wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

Charlie Kirk's last words

Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization on Wednesday. Just before shots rang, he was taking questions about mass shootings and gun violence, The Associated Press reported.

“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” an audience members asked. Kirk responded: “Too many.”

The questioner followed up: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”

“Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk asked.

Videos posted to social media show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent. A single shot rang out and the 31-year-old could be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushed from the left side of his neck.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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