Frank Turek, Charlie’s close friend, mentor, and a man of God, shared a firsthand account of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Turek described the tragic events during his “Cross Examined” podcast on Tuesday.
On Stage With Kirk
Turek was on stage at Utah Valley University when the shot rang out.
He initially thought the “pop” came from something nearby.
Frank Turek
Only moments later did he realize it was a rifle firing.
He watched Kirk fall and saw the security team respond immediately.
Turek then sought cover as chaos broke out in the auditorium.
He recalled the frantic rush to get Kirk into a waiting SUV.
Turek jumped into the back of the vehicle as it sped off.
The Ride to the Hospital
Kirk’s tall frame made it impossible to shut the SUV doors fully.
Security tried to keep him stable as the vehicle raced away.
Turek said prayers were spoken inside the SUV during the ride.
At one point, CPR was attempted by Kirk’s team.
But Turek admitted he already knew it was too late.
“Charlie wasn’t there,” Turek said solemnly.
Looking Into Eternity
“He wasn’t looking at me,” Turek recalled.
“He was looking past me, right into eternity.”
Turek said Kirk was with Jesus the instant he was struck.
He emphasized that Kirk felt no pain at the time.
Doctors later confirmed the shot was instantly catastrophic.
Hospital Efforts
At Timpanogos Regional Hospital, doctors briefly revived a pulse.
“The doctor said it was because Charlie was healthy,” Turek recounted.
Surgeons tried for 20 to 30 minutes to save him.
Eventually, they told the family and friends he had died.
The news confirmed what Turek already knew in the SUV.
Faith and Comfort
Turek said the only comfort is that Kirk did not suffer.
He said his friend’s faith meant he was “present with the Lord.”
Screenshot
“Absent from the body, present with the Lord,” Turek explained.
He insisted Kirk was already with Jesus the moment he fell.
“That’s where he was,” Turek concluded, offering hope to mourners.
WATCH
Christian author Frank Turek, who was with Charlie Kirk when he was assassinated, says Charlie was with Jesus the moment he was hit.
“Now, here’s what Erika wants me to relate…”
“He was looking past me right into eternity. He was with Jesus already. He was killed instantly… pic.twitter.com/jGJjfuENMO
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 17, 2025
tragic
His initial impression that the shot was from nearby was perhaps correct
i don’t understand with a crowd that size there wasn’t
an ambulance on standby–tragic results