Charlie Kirk's widow on husband's death: 'You have no idea what you just have unleashed'

Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, said her husband's "mission" would be more powerful than ever in her first statement after his killing.

In a video address, standing beside her husband's empty chair where he recorded his pocasts, Erika Kirk spoke for the first time after her husband was fatally shot at a campaign event at a university in Utah as he debated members of the crowd.

"If you thought that my husband's mission was powerful before you have no idea, you have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country and this world," Erika Kirk said address the "evil-doers" responsible for her husband's killing, "You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife, the cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry."

In her speech, Erika Kirk thanked the first responders that "struggled heroically to save Charlie's life," as well as police authorities.

"I first want to thank the local, state, and federal law enforcement who worked tirelessly to capture my husband's assassin so that he can be brought to justice," she said.

Erika Kirk also thanked US President Donald Trump, US Vice President JD Vance and supporters who had "shown their love" for her husband.

"I want to thank the millions of people who have shown their love for Charlie here in Phoenix, across America, and worldwide. I want to thank my husband's dear friend, Vice President Vance and his phenomenal wife, Usha, for their love and support. You guys honoured my husband so well bringing him home," Erika Kirk said.

"I want to thank President Trump and his incredible family for the same. Mr. President, my husband loved you, and he knew that you loved him, too. Your friendship was amazing. You supported him so well, as did he for you," she added.

Charlie Kirk, one of Trump's staunchest allies and prominent conservative activist, was well known for speaking at college campuses across the US. He was fatally shot at Utah Valley University, which he was attending for the first of several scheduled campus events included in his "America Comeback Tour."

He was taking part in a segment of the tour title "Prove Me Wrong", where he invited students in the crowd to debate him on key political and cultural topics.

The suspect apprehended over the shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk in Utah is a 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Utah, law enforcement officials said on Friday.