A tearful Erica Kirk was seen being escorted out of the White House correspondents’ dinner after gunshots caused a panic at the venue and people were forced to leave. In a video shared by a CNN reporter and widely circulated on social media, she can be heard saying, “I just want to go home,” as security let her go. The moment drew attention and sympathy, as her husband Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in September last year.Kirk, a conservative political activist and social media influencer, was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, during a campus event organized by his group. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was facing aggravated murder charges and the possible death penalty, died in what investigators described as a targeted shooting.Meanwhile, Saturday’s dinner at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton was disrupted after a man opened fire near the main security screening area, causing panic inside the packed venue. Hundreds of guests hid under tables as security personnel rushed in. The United States Secret Service took the suspect into custody, while the officer who was shot was protected by a bullet-proof vest and is expected to recover.The dinner was attended by a high-profile mix of political leaders, journalists and celebrities, with about 2,600 people in attendance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton. Attendees included Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as several Cabinet members and senior officials.
