Hundreds gather in Ozark to mourn loss of Charlie Kirk

OZARK, Mo. - For organizer Jessica Wood, she remembers exactly where she was when she saw the news of Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting.

“I was at home with my children. I just put my daughter down and immediately was in tears looking at the news, waiting for updates. I was blessed to be able to see him and felt like he's the brother in Christ to us, and it was like a family member had been shot,” Wood said.

Wood immediately began working with people to organize a vigil Sunday night in Ozark, at the town square, a place that was packed with supporters.

“We have a local business on the square, and our family just felt this call from God that we needed to do this for our community. Every person we asked said yes immediately. So just by the grace of God, everything fell into line,” Wood said. “Everyone stepped up. It took one question, and everyone's response was within 2 minutes saying, ‘yep, we're on board.”

As the sun set, and candles were raised into the sky, Wood says the turnout and support is a reminder of Kirk’s impact on her life, and others in attendance.

“Charlie Kirk was very loved, and the church is uniting and wanting to lift up our community and there is a desire for something to be done to honor him and his life and his legacy,” Wood said. “I feel like it's basic humanity that nobody deserves to die.  I also feel like it's an opportunity for the church to show up to stand up and show everyone what it is to be a church, and that you can handle a crisis like this and spread the gospel to share love, to show love and show how Christians react to a tragedy like this.”

The event featured speakers from Turning Point USA chapters on the college level and at the high school level.

“It's just so incredible just seeing everybody come out here tonight in support of him,” one speaker said.

“Charlie Kirk inspired me to be the man that I am today. He inspired me to immerse myself in the Christian faith and start my chapter, and I think he inspired millions more like me,” another speaker said.

A local pastor used his time to challenge members of the Christian faith to lean on their values to carry on a message of unity, in a time where political tensions are close to an all-time high.

“His graduation into eternity leaves a void,” the pastor said.

A prayer was held for Kirk and his family, the man charged with Kirk’s death, and Iryna Zarutska, who was killed at the end of August, a killing that sparked reaction across America.