As the nation continues to process the shocking assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk, new details have emerged about his final moments. At a memorial service held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where former President Donald Trump was scheduled to speak, one of Kirk’s closest friends offered an emotional recollection of the frantic attempt to save his life — including why the desperate ride to the hospital was made with the car door open.
A Nation Shaken by the Assassination
On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while addressing a crowd of more than 3,000 at Utah Valley University (UVU). The appearance was part of his “American Comeback Tour,” a nationwide campus event series designed to engage young voters and shape political discourse.
Eyewitnesses reported chaos as a single gunshot struck Kirk in the neck mid-speech, causing immediate panic in the packed auditorium. Security personnel rushed him from the stage and into a waiting vehicle in a desperate bid to get him to Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, Utah.
An FBI manhunt was launched within hours. Within two days, authorities confirmed the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who now faces multiple charges including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony firearm discharge. Prosecutors have since announced their intent to pursue the death penalty.
Kirk’s assassination not only robbed his family and allies of a husband, son, and friend, but it also ignited a nationwide conversation about political violence, free speech, and the risks public figures face in an increasingly polarized environment.
The Unusual Ride to the Hospital
Amid the flurry of tributes, one of the most intimate and heartbreaking details of that day was shared by Frank Turek, a Christian author and speaker who considered Kirk like a son.
In an interview on his podcast, Cross Examined, Turek recalled being in the vehicle with Kirk during the frantic hospital transport. He described how medics and security personnel worked tirelessly to keep Kirk alive, and why the unusual decision was made to keep the car door open the entire way.
“Charlie is laid out right in front of me, and Charlie’s so tall we can’t close the door,” Turek explained.
With Kirk’s body stretched across the backseat and medical responders urgently working to stanch the bleeding from his neck wound, closing the vehicle door was simply impossible. The car sped through city streets with its door ajar, a visible symbol of the chaos and desperation of that moment.
CPR in the Backseat
For Turek, who is 63 years old, the experience was deeply personal. Fighting back tears, he recalled attempting CPR on Kirk as they raced toward the hospital.
“Charlie Kirk was literally a son to me,” he said. “So, if your son got hit, what would you do? I got in the car — because if there was any way I could save him, I had to do something.”
Turek described pressing on Kirk’s chest and speaking to him constantly in the hope of drawing him back:
“Come on Charlie, come on, come on,” he repeated, as the vehicle barreled toward the emergency room.
Meanwhile, members of Kirk’s security team, trained for crisis scenarios, worked with steady hands to apply pressure and manage the bleeding. Turek praised their composure in such dire circumstances:
“His security detail acted calmly but swiftly, doing exactly what they were trained to do,” he recalled.
“He Was Already Gone”
Despite the urgency and combined efforts, Turek admitted that, deep down, he knew Kirk had already slipped away.
“Charlie wasn’t there. His eyes were fixed,” he said. “He wasn’t looking at me — he was looking past me right into eternity. He was with Jesus already.”
By the time the vehicle arrived at Timpanogos Regional Hospital, doctors confirmed that Kirk had succumbed to his injuries. News of his death spread quickly across social media and through official channels, sparking waves of grief, outrage, and reflection across the country.
Trump, Vance, and National Leaders Pay Tribute
At Kirk’s memorial service on September 21, tens of thousands filled State Farm Stadium while more than 100,000 people tuned in to the livestream. The event was billed as “Building A Legacy, Remembering Charlie Kirk” and featured tributes from national leaders.
Former President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, all addressed the crowd. Security measures were strikingly tight, with many viewers noting that the podium itself was enclosed in bulletproof glass.
Elon Musk, another high-profile attendee, posted footage of the stadium on his platform X, remarking on the massive turnout and expressing his honor to be present.
Erika Kirk’s Emotional Words
Perhaps the most poignant voice of the memorial was that of Erika Kirk, who released a powerful statement ahead of the service:
“If you thought 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.”
She continued:
“In a world filled with chaos, doubt, and uncertainty, my husband’s voice will remain, and it will ring out louder and more clearly than ever.”
Her words echoed through the stadium, underscoring both grief and determination to continue her late husband’s mission.
A Legacy Cut Short but Amplified
For Frank Turek and many others, Kirk’s final moments were not simply about tragedy but also about devotion — to faith, to country, and to the causes he championed.
The image of a car speeding toward the hospital with its door open, carrying a man too tall for the vehicle that struggled to contain him, has become symbolic of Kirk’s larger-than-life presence in American politics.
Though his life was cut short at just 31 years old, the scale of his memorial, the words of his friends and family, and the attention of national figures suggest that his legacy is far from over.
Conclusion
Charlie Kirk’s assassination remains one of the most shocking political tragedies in recent American history. His close friend Frank Turek’s recollection of the desperate attempt to save him — CPR performed in the backseat, a car door left open for lack of space, and whispered pleas of “come on Charlie” — paints a raw, human picture of the chaos of that day.
While investigators pursue justice and prosecutors push for the maximum penalty against the accused, Kirk’s allies have pledged to carry forward his vision. As Erika Kirk stated, the tragedy has not silenced him — instead, it has amplified his message for a new generation.
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