Erika Kirk, chief executive of Turning Point USA and widow of the group's late founderCharlie Kirk, has spoken publicly for the first time about the Washington Hilton shooting, calling it a traumatic example of the 'evil in our country'. Her statement came after footage showed her tearful and shaking as Secret Service agents evacuated guests from the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
The incident unfolded in Washington DC on Saturday when an alleged gunman, identified by authorities as 31 year oldCole Tomas Allen, opened fire inside the hotel.President Donald Trump, senior officials and guests including Kirk were rushed out under armed guard as security teams moved to contain the chaos.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is usually a glossy night of speeches, jokes and political theatre. This year's event, held in the basement ballroom of the Washington Hilton, turned into a security emergency when Allen allegedly entered the venue armed with a shotgun and knives. Secret Service agents subdued him inside the hotel, and prosecutors now say he had gone there to target members of the Trump administration.
For many people, the human cost of that chaos first appeared in a short, shaky clip shared online. In the footage, Kirk is seen crying as she is escorted through a corridor, visibly distressed. At one point, through tears, she says: 'I just want to go home.'
WATCH: Erika Kirk in tears after shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner‘I just want to go home’pic.twitter.com/IXU4z4YhOe
Kirk had attended the dinner as a guest of Fox News. Later that night, Fox anchor Bret Baier told viewers he had seen her 'crying in the back hall, as you can imagine, after the assassination of her husband'.Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, died earlier this year, leavingErika Kirk to lead the organisationwhile still in mourning.
Other witnesses said FBI Director Kash Patel was seen comforting her during the confusion near the exits. It was a small, intimate moment set against a scene of armed agents, shouted instructions and a hotel suddenly thrown into panic.
Until Sunday evening, Kirk had not spoken publicly about the attack. She then posted a short statement onXthat made clear how deeply the night had affected her.
'Saturday was yet another traumatic example of the evil in our country and the continued rise in political violence. I'm taking time to spend with my family. I will be joining The Charlie Kirk Show on Wednesday at 12 PM ET to briefly address what took place. Enough is enough,' she wrote.
Saturday was yet another traumatic example of the evil in our country and the continued rise in political violence. I’m taking time to spend with my family.I will be joining The Charlie Kirk Show Wednesday at 12PM ET to briefly address what took place. Enough is enough.
Source: International Business Times UK
