Hunter Kozak, the student who exchanged words with Charlie Kirk moments before his assassination, calls the shooting a tragedy and condemns political violence.
The student who exchanged words with Charlie Kirk moments before the conservative activist was fatally shot has now spoken publicly about the tragic ordeal.
Kirk was assassinated while addressing students at Utah Valley University (UVU) on September 10, when a gunman fired a lethal shot from a nearby rooftop. Panic erupted as hundreds in the audience rushed to safety, while the FBI launched an urgent manhunt for the shooter.
The Student’s Heartbreaking Response
The student, identified as Hunter Kozak, known online as “staxiom,” is a UVU mathematics student. In a video shared to social media, he described the shooting as a devastating tragedy:
“It is not the answer, I don’t know what else to say. A father doesn’t have his kid anymore. Charlie had two kids and a wife… If my one-year-old boy, like his one-year-old boy, will grow up without memories of his dad… it is a tragedy.”
Kozak emphasized that he, too, is a father and said the shooting has shaken the entire campus community.
Reflecting on the Debate
In an eerie twist, Kirk’s final conversation before being shot centered on the issue of gun violence and mass shootings. Kozak explained that he was trying to make a point about how peace is essential in political disagreements:
“I was trying to explain how peaceful the left was, and that only makes sense if we stay peaceful.”
Condemning Violence and Online Reactions
While many across the country have expressed sympathy for Kirk’s family, some have taken to social media to celebrate his death. Kozak strongly condemned such behavior:
“If you are salivating about what happened… don’t. If you are, you are not part of what I am trying to build here, at all.”
Kozak urged people to view Kirk as a fellow human being, regardless of political differences, and said he hopes the tragedy serves as a reminder of the need for peace over violence.
FBI Investigation Continues
The FBI has released images and video of the suspected shooter and is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Evidence recovered from the rooftop includes shoe impressions, a forearm imprint, and a palm print.
Featured Image Credit: Salt Lake Tribune/Getty
