President Donald Trump said Thursday that he had a “long talk” with Erika Frantzve, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and described her as “absolutely devastated” after Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at an event on a Utah university campus.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was struck by a single bullet to the neck during an outdoor appearance Wednesday at Utah Valley University and died after collapsing on stage. Trump told reporters on the South Lawn that he had spoken at length with Frantzve, who is the mother of Kirk’s two young children, and that he planned to honor Kirk posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The university, federal agents and local law enforcement have launched a multi-agency manhunt for the shooter. Authorities said the gunman fired from the Losee Center, a building on the Utah Valley University campus roughly 200 yards from the outdoor stage where Kirk was speaking to a crowd. Two people were taken into custody shortly after the attack and later released after questioning, officials said.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect and released surveillance images of a person of interest. The images show a lanky male wearing dark clothing, wrap-around sunglasses and a T-shirt with an eagle and American flag bearing the words “Land of the free, home of the brave.” Officials have not publicly identified a motive.
“At this time I have an indication as to what motivated the assassin,” Trump said, without giving further details, adding there have been “rapid developments” in the investigation. Trump confirmed Kirk’s death Wednesday on his social media platform and described Kirk as “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions.”
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the crowd scattered. Students and attendees ran from the area after the gunshot, and video taken at the event showed Kirk bleeding and falling from a chair as people screamed and tried to assist.
Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA as a conservative youth organization and had become a prominent voice in pro-Trump circles, had been kicking off a multi-city “American Comeback” tour at the time of the shooting. His death has heightened security concerns at public political events and prompted statements of condemnation and calls for information from elected officials across the political spectrum.
Erika Frantzve, 31, has been publicly identified as Kirk’s widow. Trump said the two spoke privately and that she was “devastated, absolutely devastated, as you can imagine.” He announced his intention to award Kirk the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in a posthumous recognition.
Federal and local investigators said they are pursuing multiple leads and have urged anyone with information to contact the FBI. Authorities have urged the public not to interfere with the investigation and said updates would be provided as they become available.