Country singer Jason Aldean said he was "brokenhearted" after his friend Charlie Kirk was fatally shot Wednesday while on a college speaking tour at Utah Valley University, posting a photograph and condolences on social media.
Aldean shared an Instagram photo showing Kirk alongside his wife, Brittany Aldean, and wrote, "It's been a hard day not only in our family, but all over the country. Charlie Kirk was one of the kindest, smartest and bravest people I've ever met. I'm honored to have met and spoke with him on a few occasions. He was a man of peace and wanted nothing but the best for our country and its youth. We might have lost Charlie today but what he has done will live on forever. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, kids and the entire Kirk family." His wife also posted, calling the loss "a heartbreak so many of us will never get over" and praising Kirk's courage, faith and work on behalf of young people. Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kim Zolciak liked Aldean's post and wrote, "Amen."
Donald Trump said Friday on Fox News that "with a high degree of certainty, we have him," referring to a suspect in Kirk's killing, and that a minister involved with law enforcement had turned the suspect in. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the person in custody is a 22-year-old from Utah identified as Tyler Robinson. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation remained active. Authorities have said the matter is under investigation and provided limited public detail.
Aldean has previously spoken publicly about surviving a mass shooting while on stage. He was performing at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017, when gunfire erupted in an attack that left 60 people dead and more than 800 injured. On an episode of the Armchair Expert podcast earlier this month, Aldean described experiencing a breakdown in the months after the Las Vegas shooting, saying the emotional weight of the event caught up with him after his son was born.
"It was a festival like we've done a million times," Aldean recalled on the podcast. "It was just obviously something that we weren't prepared for." He described returning home to family amid the aftermath and later having "a moment at my house where I kind of broke down thinking about just all the people that I could have lost… my wife was there eight months pregnant with my son and all these things." Aldean said he did not pursue formal counseling at the time, saying he and those close to him relied on conversations with family and bandmates.
The Las Vegas attack remains the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history and has continued to affect victims, families and witnesses. Aldean has marked the anniversary of the shooting in social posts, writing last year that "this day never gets easier" and sending love to the "Route 91 family." His wife, Brittany, has also written publicly about the lingering pain and gratitude for first responders in the years since.
Aldean told the podcast that the tragedy left him with mixed emotions of relief for those who were unharmed and survivor's guilt for the lives changed or lost. He said those experiences shaped his outlook and bond with Las Vegas, adding that he hoped to return to the city in different circumstances in the future.
The investigation into Kirk's death and the circumstances surrounding the suspect's custody remain ongoing. Authorities and the Kirk family have not released further details beyond the initial statements and social media tributes from friends and public figures.