The late conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s wife expressed on Friday that her husband was a noble individual who should be remembered for his bravery and faith, and she pledged that his movement would endure.

In her first public statement since her husband was tragically shot at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Erika Kirk denounced those accountable for his death as evil.

“The perpetrators of my husband’s murder do not understand the repercussions of their actions,” she stated. “Charlie was targeted because he promoted a message of patriotism, faith, and God’s gracious love.”

“If you believed that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you are mistaken,” she added. “You cannot fathom the impact you have triggered across this nation and beyond. You cannot imagine. You cannot imagine the determination you have sparked within me. The voice of this widow will resonate globally like a call to arms.”

Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck with a rifle fired from a rooftop during the event at the university in Orem.

Authorities believe the suspect, a 22-year-old Utah resident, acted alone, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said.

Erika Kirk appeared in a video titled “Charlie Kirk’s beloved wife, Mrs. Erika Kirk addresses the Nation,” which was broadcast on Turning Point USA’s social media platforms. Her husband was a co-founder of the organization.

She expressed gratitude towards the law enforcement officials whose work resulted in the apprehension of the suspect and the first responders whom she described as having made heroic efforts to save her husband.

She said Charlie Kirk “was the perfect father … the perfect husband.”

“I will never, ever have the words to describe the loss that I feel in my heart,” she said. “I honestly have no idea what any of this means. I know that God does, but I don’t.”

The suspect in the killing, Tyler Robinson, was arrested Friday in Washington County.

Robinson’s father reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, who then notified other officials, according to two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation.

The sheriff’s office contacted the sheriff of Utah County, where the killing occurred, and Robinson turned himself in and was arrested, Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said.

Mason said that he believes investigators would have tracked down Robinson even had he not surrendered.

“I have no idea what his mind-set was, why he turned himself in,” Mason said. “What I can speak to, is I’m confident that the process we were using, the leads we were developing and the information that was coming in — we would have apprehended him.”

Kirk’s killing was met with furious condemnation, including by President Donald Trump. The assassination sparked questions about the nature of political discourse, including online where some who disagreed with Kirk celebrated his killing, and others on the right called for “civil war.”

Trump said Thursday that he will posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Erika Kirk on Friday thanked Trump, Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance. She said that JD Vance was a dear friend of her husband. Charlie Kirk was a close Trump ally and he played an influential role in helping Vance rise in national politics.

Charlie Kirk was the father of two young children. His wife said that on Thursday night, their 3-year-old daughter asked, “where’s Daddy?”

“How do you tell a 3-year-old? She’s 3,” she said. “I said baby, Daddy loves you so much. Don’t you worry, he’s on a work trip with Jesus so he can afford your blueberry budget.”

She said that Turning Point USA and Charlie Kirk’s radio show and podcast will continue, and that a fall campus tour will go on. She said her heart was with her husband’s employees “who lost a friend and a mentor.”

“My husband’s mission will not end, not even for a moment,” Erika Kirk said.