Erika Kirk breaks silence on anniversary of husband Charlie's death as she shares heartbreaking photo with poignant message

Erika Kirk shared a heartbreaking tribute to her husband Charlie as she marked the one-year anniversary of his death.

The Turning Point USA founder, 31, was fatally shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.

On Thursday, one year later, Erika shared a black-and-white photo from their wedding, showing her holding Charlie's hands with the simple message '...until Heaven.'

The poignant tribute came amid reports Erika, 37, planned to mark the somber anniversary in private.

'Erika will mark the anniversary of Charlie's death privately with her and Charlie's two young children, their family and close friends,' a family spokesperson told the Daily Mail.

'She is so grateful for the continued outpouring of prayers, love and support as she and her family remember and honor Charlie as the beloved husband and father he was.'

The statement suggests Erika will not attend a planned vigil at Utah Valley University on Thursday night.

She had previously attended President Donald Trump's speech at the Republican convention in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, where the commander-in-chief spoke about Charlie's legacy. 

Erika Kirk shared a black-and-white photo from her wedding to the late Charlie Kirk, showing her holding Charlie's hands with the simple message '...until Heaven' to mark the one year anniversary of his death

Erika planned to mark the anniversary of his death with family and friends

He described the shock 'millions of Americans' felt upon learning of Charlie's death and bemoaned that some 'sick people' celebrated it.

'I just want to say, we love you Charlie,' Trump said, calling the shooting 'just terrible.'

But when sculptor Sergio Furnari unveiled a life-sized statue commemorating Charlie Kirk in Times Square on Thursday, crowds flew into a frenzy as footage showed men draped in American flags arguing with protesters.

The footage showed several people pushing and shoving each other to the ground, yelling 'F*** you' and throwing objects across the area, despite police officers standing nearby.

Protesters against the statue were also seen yelling 'rest in p***' at the Kirk statue and putting their middle fingers up at Furnari as he unveiled the sculpture.  

A group of young men were seen standing in front of the statue with their hands raised to the air as the event became aggressive, as another man in an American flag vest ordered others to 'calm down.'

One man was seen holding a large USA flag and yelling about 'Islamists', while other protesters squared off against him.

Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025

Furnari told Fox News that he began work on the Kirk sculpture soon after the conservative activist's assassination because he was 'saddened' by the responses some had to the tragedy.

'I [saw] how Erika got treated, including the parents of Charlie, and that’s what I think became my catalyzer,' he said.

'If you’re a parent, no matter if you were Democrat or Republican, you should have a little bit of empathy.' 

Furnari added that he was not even an especially big fan of Kirk's when he was alive, but he wanted to 'stand together' with people grieving the murder.

'It’s not like I agree with him. There’s a lot of stuff I didn’t agree with,' Furnari said.

'But still, freedom of expression and, in my case, freedom of creation — there are no boundaries, no borders. That’s where we kind of stand together.' 

The statue, standing at 6-foot-5 and costing $100,000, was built by sculptor Sergio Furnari (left)

 Furnari said he began work on the Kirk sculpture soon after the conservative activist's assassination, because he was 'saddened' by the responses some had to the tragedy

Furnari said the sculpture cost him 'probably more than $100,000' when added to the hours he spent making it, and he launched an online fundraiser to recoup the cost of the project. 

He vowed that anyone who donates to his fundraiser will have their name engraved on the statue's platform. 

Furnari said after he funded the sculpture with his own savings, he became more determined to unveil it to the public due to the discourse surrounding Kirk's death.

'I became more passionate about it — just because of the way everybody was making fun of him,' he said.

'I feel like they killed him once, and they kill him each time, over and over again.'