Charlie Kirk was 'like a brother to me,' says Donald Trump Jr.

(NewsNation) — Donald Trump Jr. shared his sadness with the remainder of the state aft the decease of Charlie Kirk, a blimpish activistic and Turning Point USA co-founder.

"Charlie wasn’t conscionable a person — helium was similar a small member to maine - and to millions of radical astir the satellite - helium was a existent inspiration. He was 1 of the astir courageous, principled men I’ve ever known, and helium lived each time with purpose. His religion successful God was unshakable, his emotion for Erika was inspiring, and the mode helium adored and cared for his 2 beauteous kids showed the benignant of antheral helium genuinely was. Charlie dedicated his beingness to thing bigger than himself," helium said.

Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump Jr.'s past together

Trump Jr. and Kirk person a agelong history dating backmost to Kirk becoming an avid protagonist and state of Trump Jr.'s father, President Donald Trump. Kirk served arsenic a idiosyncratic adjutant to Trump Jr. during the 2016 wide predetermination campaign.

Turning Point USA’s governmental helping helped assistance the elder Trump's run past year, which energized disaffected conservatives to vote. As a result, Trump was capable to unafraid Arizona, Turning Point’s location base, by 5 percent points.

“The Great, and adjacent Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No 1 understood oregon had the Heart of the Youth successful the United States of America amended than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, helium is nary longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies spell retired to his beauteous woman Erika, and family. Charlie, we emotion you!” President Trump wrote connected Truth Social.

What we cognize astir the Charlie Kirk shooting

Kirk, 31, was killed during an lawsuit astatine Utah State University connected Wednesday.

Witnesses reported proceeding a azygous gunshot fired astatine the event. He was rushed to a adjacent infirmary but died of his injuries.

Authorities said a idiosyncratic of involvement is successful custody successful the shooting. Police said the idiosyncratic of involvement was seen connected surveillance video captured astir the clip of the shooting. The idiosyncratic has not yet been named.

Police said a 2nd idiosyncratic was taken into custody for obstruction aft the shooting.

"This isn’t my beardown suit and I don’t adjacent cognize however to statesman to enactment into words the nonaccomplishment I americium feeling close present implicit the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Charlie wasn’t conscionable a person — helium was similar a small member to maine - and to millions of radical astir the satellite - helium was a existent inspiration. He was 1 of the astir courageous, principled men I’ve ever known, and helium lived each time with purpose. His religion successful God was unshakable, his emotion for Erika was inspiring, and the mode helium adored and cared for his 2 beauteous kids showed the benignant of antheral helium genuinely was. Charlie dedicated his beingness to thing bigger than himself. He fought tirelessly for this country, for the values that marque America great, and for the adjacent generation. The interaction helium had connected young radical — reaching them successful masses, giving them courageousness to basal up, to deliberation for themselves, and to combat for state — is immeasurable. There is nary question that Charlie’s enactment and his dependable helped my begetter triumph the presidency. He changed the absorption of this nation. Charlie was ne'er a menace to anyone. He was civil, helium was kind, helium listened and responded with respect. The lone “threat” helium ever posed was that helium was incredibly effective. He was a almighty messenger of truth, and radical heard that truth. That’s what made him a target. This nonaccomplishment is perfectly devastating — not lone for Erika and the kids, but for our country. We’ve mislaid a leader, a fighter, and a antheral whose quality and condemnation were rare. Too rare. To deliberation that his beingness was chopped abbreviated by a brutal, heinous, evil enactment is beyond comprehension. It is horrible and it is heartbreaking. Moments similar this punctual america conscionable however fragile beingness is. We can’t hold to archer radical however overmuch they mean to america — we can’t respect them successful silence. Charlie knew helium was loved, but I privation to accidental it again: helium was a member to me, and I volition transportation that with maine forever. I cognize Charlie’s bequest doesn’t extremity here. He poured into millions of young radical who volition transportation guardant the torch helium lit. He built thing that volition outlast him, due to the fact that it was grounded successful faith, successful truth, and successful courage. And arsenic his friend, I volition ne'er hide him. I’ll grant him by loving boldly, speaking information without fear, and continuing his tone of courage. His combat lives connected successful each of america who loved him. This is an unimaginable loss. For me, for his family, for everyone who loved him, and for America. Rest successful peace, brother. You volition beryllium missed much than words tin ever accidental — but your bequest volition ne'er beryllium forgotten and we volition support warring the bully fight."