Just over a week after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, his widow Erika has shared what she describes as one of the last photographs taken of her husband.
The 36-year-old widow posted the emotional tribute on Instagram, accompanied by a haunting caption.
Kirk was shot and killed on September 10 during a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
The alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with aggravated murder and several other felonies related to the killing.
Since her husband’s death, Erika has been thrust into a very public role as the new leader of Turning Point USA, the organization Charlie co-founded in 2012 to continue her husband’s mission, per CNN.
The couple, who married in 2021, shared two young children – a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.
In previous statements, Erika has vowed to continue Charlie’s work, declaring that ‘the movement my husband built will not die’ and promising that the organization’s campus tours would continue as planned.
Erika, a former Miss Arizona USA who has been a constant presence at Charlie’s side throughout his career, frequently documented their life together on social media.
In the deeply personal post of one of Charlie’s final moments, Erika revealed how sports, particularly basketball, became a cornerstone of their relationship from the very beginning.
The photo shows Charlie addressing a large crowd, wearing a simple white t-shirt emblazoned with the word ‘freedom.’
“You loved witnessing excellence. It’s why you loved sports so much,” Erika wrote in the caption. “You loved watching the best of the best perform at the level of greatness God intended for them.”
She went on to describe their early courtship, painting a picture of two young athletes finding connection on the basketball court.
“When we first started dating, we went to the basketball court to shoot around. I loved seeing you in that element because time was irrelevant. It was just us, the sound of sneakers squeaking and jump shots.”
The couple bonded over their shared belief that Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player of all time, with both sharing stories of their own athletic backgrounds — Charlie from his high school basketball days and Erika from her college career as an NCAA player at Arizona State University.
Erika also shared the story of a red bracelet Charlie wore religiously throughout their relationship — one that bore the simple but powerful message: “Work harder, be better.”
According to Erika, Charlie never removed the bracelet and lived by its motto daily.
“Years later, one day after an event on campus a student asked you about your bracelet, and you gave it to them,” she recalled.
“I have no idea who that student was or where they are today, but I have no doubt they’re working harder and being better, because you set the tone.”
The photograph itself, which Erika describes as Charlie’s ‘Jordan photo,’ shows the 31-year-old activist in what would be among his final public appearances.
“This is one of the last photos taken of you before you were murdered. I look at it and can’t help but see excellence,” she wrote.
“You’re in your element. You’re in athlete mode. Training for this exact moment, mind, body, and soul.”
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