Charlie Kirk Shooting

The death of Charlie Kirk at the age of 31 at an event in Utah in September 2025 led to widespread reactions from fans and detractors alike.

We're also thinking his loved ones, especially his parents Robert and Kimberly, had to have been devastated by his passing.

Here's a look into the lives of the media powerhouse's parents and how they factored into his early life in politics.

Robert and Kimberly raised Charlie in Prospect Heights, Illinois, located just outside of Chicago.

Robert worked in construction, and he ran an architectural firm throughout the media figure's childhood.

The commentator's father was involved with the construction of Trump Tower in New York City, according to The Independent.

His mother formerly worked as a trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange before she changed careers and became a mental health counselor.

While Charlie became widely known for his outspokenness about conservatism in the United States, his parents were much quieter about their political beliefs.

The media figure spoke about his parents in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, where he described them as moderate Republicans.

However, Charlie's father was politically active behind the scenes, and he was one of Mitt Romney's major donors during the politician's 2012 presidential campaign, according to The New York Times.

Robert reportedly supported his son when he founded Turning Point USA, and helped come up with the organization's name.

Robert and Kimberly were around to see their son become a father when he welcomed a daughter in August 2022.

Their son shared his eldest child with his wife Erika Frantzve, whom he married in May 2021, and they welcomed a son three years later.

However, Robert and Kimberly lost their son when he was shot and killed after answering a question about mass shootings at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10.

Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter scrawled political messages on the equipment brought to the murder scene ... expressing support for the transgender community while making antifascist remarks.

A bulletin -- posted online by conservative commentator Steven Crowder -- was sent around to agents in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. We've confirmed the authenticity of the bulletin with our federal law enforcement sources.

In the message, the ATF claims "All cartridges have engraved wording on them, expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology." It does not get more specific as to what the messages say.

Former Congressman Jason Chaffetz was in the crowd when conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a university in Utah, and he says America can't let the tragedy stop folks with different views from voicing their opinions in a civilized manner.

Jason joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and we asked him what Charlie's killing means for the future of America, and political events and gatherings held in public spaces ... like the campus tour Charlie was doing when he was shot dead.

Harvey and Jason go way back and have always had spirited and civil debates on a host of issues they disagree on ... and Jason says that's the spirit Charlie embodied, and it's something we can't lose sight of as a country.

Joe Rogan and Charlie Sheen learned about Charlie Kirk getting shot live on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast ... and you can see their raw reactions in a chilling video.

Check out the sobering clip -- the podcaster and TV personality is nearly speechless as his production team delivers the horrible news. Sheen, meanwhile, notes that this was a political assassination and that no one deserves to die for having a different view from someone else.

Once Joe is able to gather his thoughts, he denounces anyone celebrating the tragedy, reiterating that Charlie was a "pretty reasonable" guy who simply debated people across the U.S. He goes on to lament about the current political climate in the U.S., explaining that he believes people have fallen into a polarizing "trap."

Charlie Kirk's supporters have been paying tribute to him since he was shot to death on Wednesday ... and, a few of his close friends in Congress are trying to immortalize him on Capitol Hill forever.

12 Republicans in the House of Representatives signed a letter addressed to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson ... which begins by laying out Wednesday's tragic events before highlighting all the good Kirk's done via Turning Point USA.

The letter calls out the political left for creating "a toxic environment where one side finds it acceptable to stoke fear and violence to silence civil dissent" ... then asks Speaker Johnson to direct that a statue of Kirk be placed in the United States Capitol.

5:33 PM PT -- The Utah Department of Public Safety just released additional photos of the person of interest.

The new angles show clearer images of his clothing, face, features and accessories.

9:50 AM PT -- The FBI has come out and said they are offering a reward up to $100,000 for information that could lead to the identification or arrest of the suspected shooter.

The feds just released an image of a person of interest in the Charlie Kirk shooting.

The FBI says ... "We are asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University."

FBI Salt Lake City released two still images Thursday showing a white man in a black long-sleeved shirt and jeans. He's also wearing a hat and dark sunglasses.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk has rocked the country, and it's hit Donald Trump and his family especially hard ... POTUS and the influential activist were close friends.

#47's golf star granddaughter Kai Trump also spent a lot of time with Kirk ... and now she's opening up about the horrific incident.

"I am deeply saddened to hear the news about Charlie Kirk," the 18-year-old said on her Instagram story. "My heart goes out to his wife, Erika, and their two children."

18-year-old Kai also talked about the Trumps' friendship with Kirk.

Charlie Kirk will receive America's highest civilian honor ... with President Donald Trump announcing he's going to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

POTUS spoke outside the Pentagon on 9/11 to mark the 24th anniversary of that tragedy ... but, he started out by speaking about the conservative commentator who was shot to death Wednesday in Utah.

He called Charlie a giant of his generation, and a champion of liberty ... before adding the administration's thoughts and prayers are with Kirk's family.

Savannah Chrisley is left shaken following the death of her friend, Charlie Kirk ... who she was set to join on tour before he was fatally shot.

As news broke that Kirk had succumbed to his injuries sustained during a shooting at Utah Valley University Wednesday, Chrisley released a video statement on her TikTok account ... where she fought back tears and revealed just how close she was to the conservative pundit.

Watch the vid, Chrisley explained how the Turning Point founder supported her amid her work to free parents Todd and Julie Chrisley from prison the past couple years -- the couple was pardoned by President Donald Trump this past spring after being convicted for tax evasion and fraud back in 2022.

The FBI has recovered a "high-powered bolt-action rifle" near the campus of Utah Valley University following the shooting death of Charlie Kirk at his "The American Comeback" tour stop on Wednesday.

Robert Bohls, the FBI special agent in charge, revealed the news in a press conference Thursday morning, adding the weapon was located in a wooded area.

He also told media investigators have collected a palm imprint, a forearm imprint and a "footwear impression" belonging to the suspect -- a male -- that will be sent for analysis.

Pat McAfee is weighing in on Charlie Kirk's death ... saying politics aside, it's "startling, saddening and maddening" for someone to lose their life over their opinions.

The ESPN talent and host released a lengthy statement on Wednesday ... hours after the Turning Point USA founder was assassinated, while hosting an event at Utah Valley University.

"I've realized that I’m a bit naive to how crazy it all has become but watching a man get hunted and slayed in broad daylight because of his opinions made me disgusted and devastated," McAfee said.

MSNBC has cut ties with political analyst Matthew Dowd ... following his controversial on-air remarks moments after Charlie Kirk was shot at Utah Valley University, TMZ has confirmed.

ICYMI ... Dowd was asked about "the environment in which a shooting like this happens" -- and he pointed to Kirk, saying, "He’s been one of the most divisive ... who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions."

He went on to say ... "You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in.”

Charlie Kirk was loving every minute of his college campus tour, was in great spirits and never indicated he had any concerns about his personal safety ... according to a friend who talked to the conservative activist the day before he was fatally shot in the neck in Utah.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... Charlie talked to a buddy for about 20 minutes over the phone Tuesday, and during the call Charlie was looking forward to his upcoming Turning Point USA events and speaking opportunities.

We're told Charlie never voiced any concerns about his safety while on the road ... and in extensive conversations with his friend, Kirk had never once spoken about his personal safety, at a public event or anywhere else.

The New York Yankees honored Charlie Kirk just before their game Wednesday ... remembering his life with a jumbotron message and a moment of silence.

The Yankee Stadium homage came just hours after Kirk was shot and killed while he was speaking with students and others on the Utah Valley University campus about political issues.

New York officials put up his picture on the team's centerfield scoreboard ... and added the words, "Remembering Charlie Kirk."

Stephen Colbert opened "The Late Show" Wednesday with a somber note, paying respect to Charlie Kirk following his death and sending his condolences to his family and loved ones.

He also shared a sobering message with viewers, noting Wednesday's senseless shooting is reminiscent to the political violence he viewed in the 1960s.

He said ... "I hope it is obvious to everyone in America that political violence does not solve any of our political differences. Political violence only leads to more political violence, and I pray with all my heart that this is the abhorrent action of a madman and not a sign of things to come."

Donald Trump gave an Oval Office address on Wednesday night lamenting the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk ... and warning that anyone involved with the political assassination would be brought to justice.

The president started his addresses by noting Charlie loved the country and was a deeply religious person who had a beautiful family ... before he turned his ire on liberals who he accused of creating violence with hateful rhetoric.

Calling him a "Martyr for Freedom" ... Trump said he lived and died for the values that are the bedrock of America, including free speech and the rule of law.