Riley Gaines delivered an emotional tribute and a public condemnation of political violence after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot Wednesday during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.
Gaines, the host of OutKick’s "Gaines for Girls" podcast and a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer, posted a lengthy video Thursday in which she called Kirk "a friend and mentor" and described his impact on young conservatives. "We don’t have to live like this," she said, decrying the erosion of tolerance for open discourse and urging people not to live in fear of speaking the truth.
In the video, Gaines mourned Kirk’s wife and two young children and said she was haunted by the prospect that video of the killing could remain on social media. She praised Kirk’s willingness "to go into the belly of the beast" to speak about his beliefs and framed her remarks through shared Christian faith, saying her grounding came from knowing "Charlie knew Jesus" and urging listeners to "take up the cross."
Police confirmed Friday that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the shooting. Authorities identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a Utah resident. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said a family member of Robinson contacted a family friend who then reached out to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office "with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident." Law enforcement officials have said the fatality was caused by a single gunshot.
Kirk, a prominent conservative commentator and organizer who founded and led Turning Point, was addressing an event on the Utah Valley University campus when he was struck. The shooting on Wednesday drew immediate condemnation across the political spectrum and renewed national attention to threats and violence against public figures.
Gaines referenced her work with Turning Point and said she had shared stages with Kirk, including an "American Comeback Tour" stop at San Francisco State University in May. She described him as "the intellectual mind and genius" and said his work had "transformed a nation" by energizing young people.
Gaines also emphasized the personal toll for Kirk’s family. "I lost a friend and a mentor, Erika lost her husband," she said in the video, referring to Kirk’s wife. She warned that the couple’s children would be affected by the images and videos of the attack that could circulate online.
Officials have not released a detailed timeline of the investigation or the suspect's motive. Local and federal authorities have typically coordinated in high-profile shootings; the investigation in this case involves multiple law enforcement agencies, public statements show.
The shooting has intensified debate over political rhetoric and safety for public figures who appear at campuses and other venues. In public comments following the attack, local and state officials urged calm and stressed the importance of allowing investigators to gather evidence and determine the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Gaines closed her video by calling on listeners to live in accordance with the values she associated with Kirk, framing his life in religious terms and urging supporters to carry forward his work. Her remarks reflected the grief and concern among colleagues and supporters in the wake of a killing that has drawn national attention and prompted an ongoing criminal investigation.