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Topics: Charlie Kirk, News, US News, Celebrity
Kit Roberts
Topics: Charlie Kirk, News, US News, Celebrity
A close associate of Charlie Kirk who was standing close to him when he was killed has recalled the moments after the shooting.
Thousands have gathered for a funeral event in Arizona marking the death of Charlie Kirk on 10 September. Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at a college campus in Utah.
His associate Frank Turek had been standing near the 31-year-old when he was shot, and recalled to the funeral the moments that followed.
Addressing the crowd, Turek said: "When that shot rang out, I took a step toward him, but his security team was on him immediately. And so, Charlie, being like a son to me, I ran toward the security team, and we ran to the SUV together.
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"No father would stand back and go, ‘No, you just take my son, take him, I’ll meet you at the hospital.’ I got into the back of the SUV, and let me tell you something, his team was amazing."
He then praised the team for doing 'everything they were supposed to do', adding: "I want you to know that we did everything we could to save Charlie, but Charlie was already gone. His face was looking at mine, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking past me right into eternity."
Turek went on to say that Kirk, who was declared dead in the hospital, had 'died instantly'.
He continued: "And if it’s any comfort at all, I learned later that Charlie felt no pain. He died instantly. We had to try to bring him back, we couldn’t save him."
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Thousands of people turned up to the State Farm Stadium in Arizona in an enormous memorial event organised by far-right campaign group Turning Point USA, which Kirk co-founded.
Speakers at the event include Kirk's associates at Turning Point as well as pastors and politicians, with musical interludes between speakers.
Ted Cruz was spotted among the crowd, while Elon Musk has also posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account that he is present at the event.
Musk wrote: "Every seat in this giant arena that isn’t roped off for security is packed to the ceiling. Honored to be here.
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"All for Charlie Kirk."
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance will also speak at the event, with the president spotted waiting to take to the stage to address the crowd.
The number of senior figures flying in to attend the funeral has necessitated a large security operation, including a screen of glass around the speaker's podium.
An official for the Department of Homeland Security spoke to the Washington Post on condition of anonymity, and explained that Kirk's funeral would be comparable to events of 'the highest national significance'.
The source said: “This designation is reserved for events of the highest national significance and enables the federal government to provide the full range of law enforcement and security resources necessary to support local officials in ensuring a safe and successful event."