Hunter Kozak, the student who spoke with Kirk just before the shooting, shared his grief and condemned the violence, urging the public to remain peaceful.

The tragic death of conservative media personality Charlie Kirk sent shockwaves across the nation on September 10, 2025, when the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA was fatally shot during a college event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

In the immediate aftermath, Hunter Kozak, the student who asked Kirk’s final question, broke his silence, describing the harrowing moments leading up to the shooting and pleading for peace in the wake of the tragedy.

In a video posted to his Instagram on September 11, Kozak appeared visibly shaken as he addressed the public. “I don’t know how to make this video, it’s been a rough 24 hours,” he said, his voice tight with emotion.

Kozak, who had recently criticized Kirk on social media, recounted the context of his presence at the university event, explaining that he had been following Kirk’s American Comeback Tour across the nation and decided to attend after noticing that one of the tour stops was at his own college.

Weeks before the shooting, Kozak had made a video questioning Kirk’s past statements regarding a suspected Minneapolis school shooter and transgender individuals.

In that video, he had quoted Kirk responding, “First Nashville, now this. How many times makes a trend?” Kozak later elaborated that he had intended his question to spark discussion about gun violence, not to provoke hostility.

During the September 10 debate, Kozak asked Kirk, “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” Kirk answered, “Too many.”

Kozak then corrected him, noting that only five transgender Americans had been involved in mass shootings over the past decade, before asking, “Do you know how many mass shooters America has seen in the last 10 years?”

Kirk responded, “Counting or not counting gang violence?” and in that moment, he was tragically shot.

Kozak emphasized that while he had challenged Kirk’s views, he condemned the act of violence and the proliferation of harmful online rhetoric. “First off, you sick f—— psychos that think this is the answer, it’s not.

I don’t know what else to say,” he said. “Charlie had two kids and a wife, and not to make this about me, but I have two kids and a wife. It’s a tragedy and it’s hard to grapple with.”

Kirk’s family was quick to release statements mourning his death. He had married podcaster and former Miss Arizona USA Erika Frantzve in 2021, and the couple had two children, a daughter born in 2022 and a son born in 2024.

Known for his fervent advocacy of conservative causes, Kirk had built a national platform through Turning Point USA and its affiliated media outlets.

His “American Comeback Tour” had brought him to multiple universities, where he frequently engaged in debate-style events with students on politically charged issues, including gun violence and cultural debates.

The Utah Valley University shooting took place in front of a live audience in a campus auditorium, where students and faculty had gathered to hear Kirk speak and participate in a Q\&A session.

According to witnesses, the shooting occurred almost immediately after Kozak’s exchange with Kirk, leaving the audience in shock and prompting a swift lockdown.

Emergency responders arrived within minutes, but Kirk succumbed to his injuries, reportedly a gunshot wound to the neck.

Following the incident, the FBI released surveillance images of a person of interest in connection with the shooting, though the individual remains at large.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack, focusing on potential motives, security protocols, and connections to online threats or extremist activity.

Meanwhile, Kozak urged the public to remain calm and compassionate. “He is still a human being, have we forgotten that?” Kozak said in his Instagram video.

Charlie Kirk’s career had been marked by rapid growth and national influence. As the founder of Turning Point USA, he became a prominent voice in conservative student activism and right-wing media, often appearing at universities across the country.

Kirk’s platform had grown to include podcasting, media appearances, and political commentary, making him a polarizing figure known for sparking intense debate on topics ranging from gun rights to cultural issues.

Despite his public persona, Kirk was remembered by colleagues and friends as a dedicated father and husband, committed to his family while navigating a high-profile, sometimes contentious career.

Hunter Kozak’s reflections provide a sobering perspective on the human consequences of political violence.

While he had disagreed with Kirk on ideological grounds, Kozak underscored the importance of civil discourse and denounced attempts to justify or glorify the shooting. “Stay peaceful,” Kozak urged, “and remember that violence is never the answer.”

His plea reflects the broader struggle of reconciling political divisions with personal tragedy, highlighting the emotional toll on those directly involved in the events.

As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about how such an attack could occur during a campus event and what measures can be taken to prevent similar tragedies.

The Utah Valley University community, alongside national leaders, students, and media outlets, continue to grapple with the shock of Kirk’s death and the broader implications for safety, free speech, and political engagement on college campuses.

Charlie Kirk’s death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that public figures can face, especially in a climate of heightened political tension. For those who knew him personally, including Kozak, the loss is both deeply personal and painfully public.

In the words of the last student to speak with him, it is a moment of tragedy that underscores the urgency of empathy, dialogue, and the preservation of human dignity even amidst disagreement.

As the nation mourns, Kozak’s message resonates: amid political passion and ideological battles, remembering the humanity of others remains paramount.

Kirk’s legacy—controversial yet influential—will now be intertwined with the tragedy of his final moments, a grim milestone in the ongoing discourse surrounding campus safety, gun violence, and the responsibilities of public figures in polarized times.

The investigation continues, and authorities have appealed for anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. Meanwhile, the nation watches as the ramifications of September 10, 2025, reverberate across political and educational communities alike.