The family of Charlie Kirk was there in Utah and accompanied his casket on Air Force Two Thursday, as it was flown to Arizona following his assassination at Utah Valley University.
Videos showed Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, their two young children, and his parents at the Salt Lake City airport as the flag-draped casket was carried onto the plane. The family remained together as Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, joined them for the flight.
Vance chose to skip the September 11 memorial ceremonies in New York in order to be with the Kirk family. "In this moment, my duty is to be with Erika, their children, and Charlie's parents," the vice president said. "Charlie was not only a leader but also my friend, and I will honor him by being here for his family."
The decision underscored the political and personal significance of Kirk's death. The vice president and his wife traveled with the family on Air Force Two, accompanying them to Phoenix, where funeral arrangements are being finalized.
In Washington DC, President Donald Trump has confirmed he will attend the funeral, expected to take place next weekend in Arizona. "I will be there to pay my respects to a great patriot," Trump said Thursday.
Trump also announced that Kirk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, established in its modern form by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Family at the Center
Kirk, 31, leaves behind his wife Erika, their two kids, and his parents. The family's presence during the transfer of his casket has been widely reported and documented in images shared from the tarmac in Salt Lake City. They traveled together with the Vice President to Arizona, where supporters gathered as the body arrived.
Ongoing Manhunt
Meanwhile, the FBI continues to search for the shooter who killed Kirk. Authorities say the gunman fired from a rooftop roughly 200 yards away before fleeing into a wooded area, abandoning a bolt-action rifle. Investigators have collected forensic evidence and received more than 130 tips.
The suspect has not yet been captured.
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