The reason Erika Kirk has “forgiven” her husband’s killer has been made public.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on September 10 while attending an event at Utah Valley University as part of his Turning Point USA comeback tour. His security team took him to the hospital, where he unfortunately passed away.
Authorities said they had taken the alleged shooter, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, into custody two days after he was shot.
Since then, Robinson has been charged with seven crimes related to suspicion of Kirk’s death, including criminal discharge of a handgun inflicting serious bodily damage, two counts of obstruction of justice, and aggravated murder.
Erika Kirk, Kirk’s widow, was one of the numerous speakers during his memorial, and she disclosed that she had “forgiven” her husband’s murderer.
Kirk wanted to ‘help save young men, exactly like the one who took his life,’ she said in her speech.
“That young man, that young man,” the 36-year-old said. On the cross, our savior said, “Father, forgive them for they not know what they do.”
“That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do.”
“The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love, love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”
During her visit to the hospital in Utah to view Kirk’s body, Erika also shared what a surgeon told her about his passing.
She said, “I saw the wound that ended his life. I felt everything he would expect to feel. I felt shock. I felt horror, and a level of heartache that I didn’t even know existed.”
“But there was something else too. Even in death, I could see the man that I love… I also saw on his lips the faintest smile…”
“Even the doctor told me there was something so instant that even if Charlie had been shot in the operating room itself, nothing could have been done. There was no pain, there was no fear, no agony.”
“One moment Charlie was doing what he loved, arguing and debating on campus, fighting for the gospel and truth in front of a big crowd, then he blinked.”
“He blinked and saw his savior in paradise.”
Erika concluded her statement by saying, “Charlie’s life was a turning point for this country. It was a miracle… Choose prayer, choose courage, choose beauty, choose adventure, choose family, choose a life of faith. Most importantly, choose Christ.”
