What to know about Charlie Kirk's wife and family
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of youth organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot in the neck on Sept. 10 at an event at Utah Valley University.
The 31-year-old, a close political ally of President Donald Trump, was speaking outside in a courtyard at the university on the afternoon of Sept. 10 when he was shot. The shooting, captured in graphic detail in video clips that rapidly spread around the internet, sparked fear and panic among the some 3,000 attendees, prompting the school to evacuate the campus and close down as authorities investigated.
Officials announced Friday, Sept. 12 the suspected shooter had been taken into custody the previous night after a manhunt spanning more than 24 hours. The suspect was identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Kirk leaves behind his wife and two children. Here's what we know about his family.
Charlie Kirk's wife was previously crowned Miss Arizona USA
Kirk was married to Erika Frantzve, a real estate agent with The Corcoran Group in New York City, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is also the founder of Everyday Heroes Like You, a nonprofit organization dedicated to community empowerment.
The couple tied the knot in May 2021, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network and a social media post by Erika.
Frantzve, who later went by Erika Kirk on some of her online pages, was also a former beauty queen, having been crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012.
How old are Charlie Kirk’s children?
Kirk and Erika shared two children, a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son, according to posts on social media.
Kirk had not revealed his children's names and has largely kept their faces off of social media.
"We have a girl and a boy and it’s no one's business what their names are or their faces," Kirk said in June 2025 while on his show.
Who are Charlie Kirk's parents?
Kirk was born in October 1993, in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights. His father, Robert, was an architect, according to the New York Times, while his mother, Kimberly, was mental health counselor, the Chicago Tribune reported. Both parents were active in conservative circles, and his father was a major donor to Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, the Times reported.
Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia mourned Kirk's death on social media and said the "loss hits especially close to home as Charlie was born in Arlington Heights and has deep ties to our community."
"Despite our political differences, there is no place for this type of hatred or violence," Tinaglia said in a statement. "We must always remember that we have more in common with one another - than what separates us."
This story was updated to add new information.
Contributing: USA TODAY staff; Laura Gersony and Stephanie Murray, Arizona Republic; Reuters