The widow of Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated as he spoke on a Utah college campus earlier this week, has been joined by mourners across the nation in paying tribute to the slain conservative activist as the suspect accused of killing Kirk is awaiting formal charges on Saturday.

Authorities identified 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Utah as the shooter, saying he fired a single shot from a rooftop on the Utah Valley University campus that killed Kirk on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Robinson was arrested late the night of Sept. 11, authorities said, after allegedly confessing to a family member. He faces charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY.

In the wake of the shooting, vigils and gatherings to honor Kirk have sprung up around the country. In Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday night, hundreds of people came together for a vigil. A stage displayed pictures of Kirk and his family, flags and a video of a speech made by Kirk's widow, according to the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Erika Kirk gave a moving address Friday night in which she called her husband a "martyr" and vowed to continue the work of his conservative organization Turning Point USA.

"The evil-doers for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done,” she said. "The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry."

Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old activist and ally of President Donald Trump, was killed by a single gunshot while speaking in front of some 3,000 people as part of his "American Comeback Tour" at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. The shooting sent students and onlookers running in a panic, captured on video and spread widely.

Erika Kirk shares tribute to slain husband, photos by his casket

Charlie Kirk's wife honored her late husband's legacy and shared moving images of her by her husband's casket in an Instagram post.

"The world is evil," Erika Kirk, 36, wrote in the tribute posted late Friday night that included family photos and her alongside the casket. "But our Savior. Our Lord. Our God. Не...Не is so good. I will never have the words. Ever."

"The sound of this widow weeping echos throughout this world like a battle cry. I have no idea what any of this means. But baby I know you do and so does our Lord. They have no idea what they just ignited within this wife. If they thought my husband's mission was big now...you have no idea. You. All of you. Will never. Ever. Forget my husband Charlie Kirk I'll make sure of it," she said.

-Natalie Neysa Alund

Kirk remembered at vigils across the US

Vigils for Kirk have sprung up in Des Moines, Iowa; West Palm Beach and Neptune Beach, Florida; East Lansing, Michigan; Phoenix, Arizona, and more, according to reporting from the USA TODAY Network. More vigils were planned Saturday and in the coming days.

Deborah Yanna, who helped organize the vigil in Des Moines, led the crowd in prayer, promising to continue Kirk's legacy.

"We ask that you would strengthen us, God. No matter how old we are, you have a plan for us. And so, God, we take that torch and we carry it, and we will continue to carry the light of Charlie Kirk," she prayed.

Similar messages of continuing Kirk's advocacy were shared at multiple vigils. In West Palm Beach, local Young Republican Club president Alex Fahmy said "the best way we can honor him is by carrying that mission forward," reported the Palm Beach Post.

Other gatherings have sprung up worldwide including in Australia and the UK. In London, a far-right rally drew tens of thousands on Saturday for an event organized by anti-immigrant and anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson. The event was billed as focused on free speech, but added plans to mourn the American activist. Some in the London crowd wore MAGA hats and carried American flags.

Multiple people fired after comments, posts

Public figures, academics and everyday business owners have faced consequences for comments and social media posts that contained celebrations or other musings that attracted swift condemnation after Kirk's killing. A similar phenomenon happened in the wake of the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, who in 2024 was campaigning for office.

News reports chronicle backlash against a MSNBC analyst, a Middle Tennessee State University assistant dean of students, a University of Mississippi employee and a communications coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. A Cincinnati barbecue restaurant also lost its contract with the local stadium, TQL Stadium, after the owner, Aaron Sharpe, commented on a Facebook post about Kirk's assassination.

Read more.

-Julia Gomez, Melina Khan and Phaedra Trethan

When will the shooting suspect be in court? What are the charges?

Prosecutors are expected to file charges against Robinson at his first court appearance on Tuesday, Sept. 16, according to Christopher Ballard of the Utah County Attorney’s Office.

Robinson’s hearing is set to begin at 3 p.m. local time, Ballard said.

Robinson was arrested for probable cause of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice, records showed. He is being held without bail. Court documents confirm Robinson had no prior felony or misdemeanor convictions on his record.

-Nick Penzenstadler

What we know about Charlie Kirk's suspected killer

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters that Robinson was taken into custody after a family member contacted a family friend, who informed authorities that Robinson had "confessed to them or implied that he committed the incident."

Investigators used images and video from the scene, interviews with family members and messages to identify him, Cox said. Family members "did the right thing," he said, adding that family and a friend "helped deliver" Robinson into custody.

Robinson was remembered by former classmates and neighbors and on his mother's Facebook page as a high-achieving student and "quiet." He had become more political recently, a family member told investigators, according to Cox. He briefly attended college for a semester and was enrolled at the time of the shooting in an electrical apprenticeship program. Neighbors said his family were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are known as Mormons.

Read more.

What was written on the bullets?

Investigators recovered bullet casings with messages written on them and also used messages they believe were sent to a roommate by Robinson to piece together more of the crime.

The single fired casing read, “Notices, Bulges, OwO What’s This?” Cox said. The phrase references an internet meme tied to animated videos and furry culture. One of the unfired casings said, according to Cox: “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao.” The lyrics reference the anthem of the antifascist Italian resistance during World War II.

Cox said that another read, “Hey fascist! Catch!” The third unfired casing, according to Cox, said, “If you’re reading this, you’re gay LMAO.”

A rifle was found wrapped in a towel discarded in a wooded area off campus, authorities have said. Messages shown to them by a roommate included references to a rifle that needed to be retrieved, wrapped in a towel. The messages also referenced engraving bullets, Cox said.

Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Thao Nguyen, Davis Winkie, Christopher Cann, Nick Penzenstadler, Aysha Bagchi, Dinah Voyles Pulver, Josh Meyer, Will Carless, David DeMille, Michael Loria and Brandon Loomis; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charlie Kirk remembered at vigils across the US; search for motive in killing continues

Reporting by Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect