Was Charlie Kirk's Family There When He Was Shot? What We Know About His Wife's Whereabouts

Questions persist about whether Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika Frantzve, and their two young children were on campus when the conservative activist was fatally shot at Utah Valley University on 10 September 2025.

Initial reports claiming the family attended the event have been walked back by major outlets, including a notable BBC correction to its live coverage.

The confusion originated from a social media post by Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, which many interpreted as confirmation of their presence. However, credible reporting now treats the family's whereabouts as unverified.

How The Markwayne Mullin Tweet Sparked Confusion About Family Presence

The uncertainty began when Senator Markwayne Mullin posted on X: 'Pray for @charliekirk11, his wife Erika, their two children, and all who were present at Utah Valley University.' Readers widely interpreted this phrasing as confirmation that Kirk's family witnessed the tragedy unfold.

However, the senator's words don't explicitly place the family at the scene. His call for prayers extended to 'all who were present', creating ambiguity about whether he meant Kirk's family specifically attended or was simply acknowledging those affected by the shooting. This linguistic grey area fuelled widespread speculation across social media platforms.

Hindustan Times reported that multiple outlets initially ran with the assumption the family was present, before subsequently revising their coverage as doubts emerged about the claim's veracity.

BBC Correction Highlights Media's Rushed Reporting

The BBC's live blog coverage exemplified how quickly unverified information spread. According to multiple outlets documenting the change, the BBC initially stated Kirk's wife and children were on the university campus during the shooting.

The broadcaster later amended its entry with a correction reading: 'An earlier version of this post said Kirk's wife and children were on the university campus. In fact, this is unclear.' OneIndia carried the same clarification, underscoring how major news organisations had to backtrack on their initial reporting.

This correction proved significant, as it signalled to other media outlets that claims about the family's presence lacked proper verification. The BBC's transparency about its error helped stem further speculation, though some secondary outlets continued repeating the unconfirmed claim.

What Major News Outlets Report Now About Charlie Kirk's Family Whereabouts

The coverage from credible sources carefully avoids stating that the family attended the Utah Valley University event. ABC News profiles Kirk's family background without asserting their presence at the shooting. Similarly, CBS News' live updates on the assassination and its aftermath do not claim that Erika or the children were on campus.

People's coverage of the investigation and suspect details also omits any confirmation of the family's attendance. This cautious approach from major outlets suggests no reliable sources have verified whether Kirk's wife and children witnessed the shooting.

The shift in reporting standards reflects lessons learnt from the initial rush to publication. Editors now attribute uncertainty explicitly rather than presenting speculation as fact.

Trump on Erika Kirk's Condition

President Donald Trump's remarks about Erika Kirk added another layer to the story without clarifying the location question. CNN's Kaitlan Collins reported on X that Trump said he'd spoken with Erika and that 'she's absolutely devastated.'

Crucially, Trump's statement addressed her emotional response to losing her husband, not whether she witnessed the shooting. His comments confirm contact with the widow but provide no insight into whether she and the children were present at Utah Valley University during the attack.

This distinction matters, as some outlets incorrectly interpreted Trump's words as indirect confirmation of the family's presence, further muddying the waters around this unresolved question.

Was Erika Frantzve at UVU?

Initially, BBC published an article that reported Charlie Kirk's wife and kids in attendance for his appearance in Utah Valley University. However, the entry was later changed as this wasn't clear.

'Correction: An earlier version of this story said Kirk's wife and children were present at the event. In fact this is unclear.,' cited BBC. The confusion was rooted from an X post made by Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin.

'Pray for @charliekirk11, his wife Erika, their two children, and all who were present at Utah Valley University.,' he posted. This led netizens to believe that Kirk's family was in the vicinity of the shooting, which has yet to be confirmed.

About Charlie Kirk's Wife, Erika Frantzve

Before being known as Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika Frantzve was hailed as Miss Arizona USA in 2012. Outside of this, she played collegiate basketball at Regis University in Colorado.

She has a degree in Political Science and International Relations earned from her time at Arizona State University. In addition, she earned a Juris Master's degree from Liberty University in 2017. Further, she recently got a Doctorate in Christian Leadership in 2022.

Kirk and Frantzve started dating in 2019, with the couple announcing their engagement in late 2020. They married on 8 May 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona, among family and close friends.

Both of them have been public about how their relationship was built around their Christian faith. Kirk and Frantzve are often seen together at Turning Point USA events, with the latter addressing crowds herself.

People who know Frantzve describe her as a passionate ministry leader and strong influence in Kirk's life and work. She joins Kirk as a proud parent, having welcomed their daughter in 2021, followed by their son in 2023.

Notably, the couple would keep their children's faces away from the public eye and seldom share photos of the family online.

This privacy stance complicates efforts to verify their whereabouts during the shooting, as the family maintained a limited public profile despite Kirk's prominent political activism.