By ROSS D. FRANKLIN and CHRIS MEGERIAN, The Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Charlie Kirk’s casket arrived in his home state of Arizona aboard Air Force Two on Thursday as Vice President JD Vance honored the conservative activist with a final flight.

Vance’s wife, Usha, stepped off the plane with Kirk’s widow, Erika. Both women wore black and sunglasses. The vice president was a few steps behind in a dark suit.

Air Force Two arrived in Phoenix after a short flight from Salt Lake City, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Orem, Utah, where Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University.

Vance helped carry Kirk’s casket with a group of uniformed service members as it was loaded onto the plane.

On Wednesday night, Vance wrote on social media that his relationship with V

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