Brilyn Hollyhand spoke with Charlie Kirk as the Turning Point USA founder traveled to Utah for the event where he was assassinated.
A close friend told Fox News Digital that Kirk had “no fear” before his assassination on Wednesday. Brilyn Hollyhand, a 19-year-old political commentator and friend of Kirk’s, said he was texting with him just before the father of two was shot and killed while speaking on his American Comeback Tour.
“He was super energetic and excited,” Hollyhand said. “The comment [Kirk] made was like, this is going to be a big win, this is going to be the time that we keep Gen Z engaged in a non-election year.”
Kirk was shot while speaking under a tent at Utah Valley University. A single gunshot rang out among thousands in attendance, striking the 31-year-old. He was rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to Hollyhand, Kirk had always faced threats without hesitation. “In the 10 years that I’ve known Charlie Kirk, has he ever been afraid of one day,” he said. Hollyhand recalled being with Kirk when security teams warned of threats, explaining, “He’s got to hold and wait in this holding room until the said threat is cleared.” Still, Kirk never considered canceling events. “It was never like, ‘Oh, yeah, we’re going to pack up and leave. We’re going to go back to the safety of our home, and we’re not going to go to campuses anymore’.”
Even when confronted in public, Hollyhand said, “at no point was there ever fear in [Kirk’s] eyes.” He added that he plans to continue Kirk’s mission and will speak at an upcoming Liberty University event where Kirk had been scheduled to appear.
President Donald Trump honored Kirk in a statement from the Oval Office, saying, “He was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much — the United States of America. He fought for liberty, democracy, justice and the American people.” Trump added, “He’s a martyr for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.”
