Pastor Jack Hibbs reacts to the assassination of the close friend Charlie Kirk

First on Fox: Pastor Jack Hibbs, a close friend of Charlie Kirk, told Fox News Digital that he was incredulous when he heard that the conservative brand had been murdered after talking to him a few hours earlier.

“My initial thoughts, of course, like everyone else, what’s going on in our country?” Said Hibbs. “But then, I think that my second thought, which is dominant thought, is that Charlie was obviously a young man not only of the deep intellect, he had great faith in Jesus.”

Kirk, 31, was shot dead on Wednesday at the start of his “American tour” at the University of Utah Valley. He leaves behind his wife, Erika, and two young children, aged 1 and 3 years old.

Hibbs, pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in southern California, said that Kirk had “a love for the Bible” and that the couple “has spent the last years crossing the scriptures together”.

Kirk’s assassination made him an “American martyr” who will encourage an entire generation of “unworthy charlies that will follow his traces,” he said.

Live updates: manhunt for Charlie Kirk Shooter continues

Charlie Kirk and Pastor Jack Hibbs have shared a close relationship in the past five years. (Pasteur Jack Hibbs)

Charlie Kirk painted as “controversial”, “provocative” in the assassination coverage of the media

Hibbs and Kirk have collaborated over the past five years in their podcast programs and their culture events. Kirk has been invited several times over the years to speak to Church of Hibbs, Born from the movement of the Jesus people, on subjects ranging from gender identity, abortion and the choice of school to biblical prophecy.

A few hours before Kirk kicks off American return tourWhere he planned to travel across the United States to university campuses and invite liberal students to debate and ask him publicly questions, Hibbs has stretched his hand by asking him if he could bring his brother into the UTAH event.

“Charlie was so kind and generous to let this stranger have a seat in the front row,” said Hibbs. “And I know that it was Charlie loving on me by loving my brother. And it was just who was extremely, extremely generous.”

“My brother sent me photos of him and Charlie, standing together before the start of the event and everything looked great,” said Hibbs. “And then my brother immediately called me during the shooting, I could hear people screaming and running, and my brother was about 25 to 35 feet from Charlie.”

Hibbs urged Kirk supporters to remember that his murder was “not the end of Charlie”, because he had immense faith.

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Charlie Kirk appeared at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, spoke during his “American tour” when he was shot in the neck and killed. (Trent Nelson / The Salt Lake Tribune / Getty Images)

“It just galvanized an entire generation not only of those who follow Charlie, but also of those who criticized him. They looked at a young man to deposit his life for his cause,” said Hibbs. “And I believe that today’s result will turn against anyone who had harmful plots to silence Charlie.”

One of Kirk’s last appearances at the Hibbs church was in March, an event entitled, “A Christian or pagan nation.”

“What many people do not realize is that they see the Charlie Kirk, so to speak, in his armor, just on stage or on the university campus, but Charlie was a very tender young man, very, very empathetic,” said Hibbs.

Charlie Kirk killed during the launch of Turning Point USA Campus Tour

The first lady Melania Trump offered her condolences to the Kirk family while the founder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika, a 3 -year -old girl and a 1 year old son. (Charlie Kirk via Instagram)

Kirk got importance during the 2016 electoral cycle, emerging as one of the most influential voices of the Maga movement and cultivating a close relationship with the Trump family. As a founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), he built a national platform that amplified the votes of young conservatives and brought them to the political arena.

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Thanks to large -scale TPUSA events, Kirk has positioned itself as a bridge between legislators and the militants of the base, creating direct links between the political establishment and a new generation of conservative leaders. His efforts extended to specialized rallies such as the Black Leadership Summit, where the young participants were even invited to the White House during the first mandate of President Donald Trump, offering them a rare opportunity to engage in face with the president.