They first met in middle school – when they were wide-eyed and 10, 11 or 12: before Americans could so easily separate themselves based on what they believed.
“Even then, he was political,” Christina Lorey wrote in a social media post after his death. “A Republican – but not an extremist. He was funny, friendly, and always the first to debate anything and everything.”
Lorey, a left-leaning journalist with a Substack following, who now lives in Wisconsin, and conservative influencer Charlie Kirk grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. On Sept. 10, a shooter is believed to have fired a single gunshot that killed Kirk, 31, on the campus of Utah Valley University.
Now, Lorey is paying tribute to her childhood friend, years after their paths diverged. She declined to speak further out of respect for his family.
Supporters visit a memorial for Charlie Kirk at the Turning Point Headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
The memorial for Charlie Kirk at the Turning Point Headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
Supporters visit a memorial for Charlie Kirk at the Turning Point Headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025.
A small group of supporters were out in Melbourne, Fla. on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 to show their support for Charlie Kirk. Kirk was an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality who was fatally shot Wednesday, September 10.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks, and praises the life of Charlie Kirk, at a memorial event at the Pentagon on the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2025, in Arlington, VA.
Kalib Magana, president of the University of Oklahoma’s chapter of Turning Point USA, lights a candle during a vigil for the organization’s cofounder Charlie Kirk on Sep. 10, 2025, in Norman. Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University.
Flags at half-staff at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, hours after the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.
People gather for a vigil in honor of Charlie Kirk following his death on Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2025 at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was killed by a gunshot wound to the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University.
People gather for a vigil in honor of Charlie Kirk following his death on Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2025 at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was killed by a gunshot wound to the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University.
People congregate at Turning Point Headquarters in Phoenix after news that the founder, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed at a rally in Utah on Sept. 10, 2025.
A U.S. flag files at half-staff in front of the White House, after right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, in Washington, D.C. on September 10, 2025.
Flags fly at half-staff at Utah Valley University where political activist Charlie Kirk was shot during an event on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his “American Comeback Tour” when he was shot in the neck and killed.
People congregate at Turning Point Headquarters in Phoenix after news that the founder, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed at a rally in Utah on Sept. 10, 2025.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., makes remarks in the U.S. Capitol about the shooting of media personality Charlie Kirk, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
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