Charlie Kirk's wife speaks out; vigil held at UMD by Turning Point USA chapter
Charlie Kirk's widow speaks out
Reaction pouring in across the country as authorities now say they have Charlie Kirk?s killer in custody 22 year old Tyler Robinson. On Friday night, Kirk?s widow, Erika, spoke publicly for the first time and vigils were held in our area. FOX 5's Sydney Persing reports.
WASHINGTON - Reaction is pouring in across the country as authorities now say they have Charlie Kirk’s killer in custody.
On Friday night, Kirk’s widow, Erika, spoke publicly for the first time and a vigil just wrapped up at the University of Maryland in his honor.
"They have no idea what they have done, they killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith and God’s merciful love," she said. "You have no idea the fire you have ignited in this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around this world like a battle cry."
The suspect:
Authorities in Utah arrested 22 year old Tyler Robinson. He is from Utah, but not a student at Utah Valley University where Kirk was fatally shot.
Officials said that Robinson’s own family facilitated his surrender and also said his family reported that he’d become more political in recent years and recently discussed how he did not like Kirk at a dinner.
Investigators also shared today that they found several inscriptions on bullet casings left behind, including one that said, "hey fascist, catch!"
Hours after that announcement, Erika Kirk spoke publicly for the first time since her husband’s death.
READ MORE: Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson: What we know
Local perspective:
There was that prayer vigil tonight on the campus of the University of Maryland hosted by the school’s chapter of Turning Point USA.
It was closed to the public but afterwards, FOX 5 asked several students in attendance what they prayed for tonight.
"I prayed for our nation that we can use this as a moment to come together, instead of this being a moment for it to keep spiraling," UMD sophomore Zach Cecere said.
"I prayed for his family more than anything. It kills me to think a man that is a father and a husband, his life would be taken just because he dared to say what he thought," said William Costlow, another UMD sophomore.
UMD’s chapter of Turning Point USA is one of more than 800 across the country on college campuses, according to the organization.