‘I just want to go home’: Tearful Erica Kirk escorted out after White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting

A tearful Erica Kirk was seen being escorted from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after gunfire sparked panic and an evacuation of the venue. In a video shared by a CNN reporter and widely circulated on social media, she said: “I just want to go home” as security escorted her away. The moment drew attention and sympathy in view of her husband, Charlie Kirkwas shot dead in September last year.Kirk was a conservative political activist and social media influencer who was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, at a campus event organized by Utah Valley University. The defendant, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, faces an aggravated murder charge and could face the death penalty after investigators say he was killed in a targeted shooting.Meanwhile, Saturday’s dinner was disrupted when a man opened fire near the main security screening area for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, sparking panic in the packed venue. Hundreds of guests hid under tables as security rushed in. The U.S. Secret Service detained the suspect, and one of the officers who was struck was protected by a bulletproof vest and was expected to be OK.The dinner draws political leaders, journalists and celebrities, with approximately 2,600 attendees attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Attendees included Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegers and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as several Cabinet members and senior officials.