Erika Kirk forgives Charlie Kirk’s shooter in speech at memorial
Charlie Kirk wanted to help those who feel they have no direction, Erika Kirk said at his memorial service in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.
A Phoenix church has been fielding phone calls from people who mistakenly think Charlie Kirk is being buried there, according to its pastor.
Kirk is not being buried at First United Methodist Church in Phoenix, Pastor David Rennick said.
First United Methodist Church has seen an uptick in inquiries from people looking to send flowers or make a contribution in honor of the slain conservative activist. A neighborhood watch group even spotted someone peeking through a church window, Rennick said.
“About two days ago, the church started to receive some telephone calls, really folks wanting to pay their condolences and send flowers, if there was any way they could make a contribution. And we were like, ‘What are you talking about?’” Rennick said. “We contacted our denominational resources and they put the word out that it was not legitimate.”
Rennick said it is too soon to tell whether the church’s online donation page received an uptick in contributions this week.
Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, a political group aimed at bringing young people into conservative politics.
He was shot and killed Sept. 10 during a Turning Point event on the Utah Valley University campus. Kirk died at age 31, leaving behind a wife and two young children.
Utah man Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged with his murder.
Kirk was honored at a public memorial at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 21 that drew the nation’s top political leaders, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and members of Trump’s cabinet.
Turning Point has not disclosed where Kirk will be buried.
Speculation about Kirk’s burial plans has swirled online, ultimately leading some members of the public to First United Methodist Church.
Rennick said that callers told church leaders that they’ve seen information online that Kirk is being buried at a “First Church,” which apparently led them to the First United Methodist Church.
“Somehow that got cross-linked with our congregation,” Rennick said.
Despite the interest, Rennick said his church has not not felt the need to increase security measures because leaders have not seen any protests or other “volatile behaviors.”
First United Methodist Church contacted the mortuary where Kirk’s body was taken, but have not received any additional information, Rennick said.
Vance accompanied Kirk’s body on Air Force Two from Utah to Arizona on Sept. 11. Kirk’s casket was taken to Hansen Mortuary Chapel in Phoenix.
Kirk lived in Arizona when he died, but he has Illinois roots. The conservative activist was raised in the Chicago suburbs and launched Turning Point from his parents’ home in Lemont, Illinois, in 2012.
Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach her via email at stephanie.murray@gannett.com and on social media @stephanie_murr.