The student who asked Charlie Kirk a question moments before he was shot dead at a speaking event at Utah Valley University has broken his silence.
Kirk’s assassination has become a major talking point across the world following the fatal shooting on Wednesday. The conservative commentator cofounded Turning Point USA and had forged a reputation as one of the more popular personalities in the right-leaning factions of US politics.
The 31-year-old was speaking at a rally at Utah Valley University as part of his American Comeback tour on September 10. He was in the middle of answering a question regarding shootings in the US when a single gunshot rang out and he was struck in the neck by the bullet believed to have been fired from a shooter on the rooftop of a nearby campus building.
At the time of writing, the shooter has not been apprehended by authorities. Police arrested two suspects in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, but later released them.
The FBI yesterday released new footage of an individual jumping down from a rooftop and fleeing the scene, while a rifle and ammunition were found in nearby woodland.
Now the last person to ever share words with Kirk is speaking out, having uploaded a video to Instagram to share his thoughts. “I don’t know how to make this video, it’s been a rough 24 hours,” he began.
As per People, Hunter Kozak was the student who asked Kirk the question that directly preceded the tragic final moments of his life.
“Do you know many transgender Americans have been shooters over the last 10 years?” Kozak asked.
Kirk responded confidently, “Too many,” as the crowd erupted in applause.
When the student insisted the number was five and asked about total mass shooters over the past decade, Kirk replied, “Counting or not counting gang violence?” These were his final words.
In his Instagram video, Kozak explained that he had attended Wednesday’s event after having made a video calling Kirk out for past comments about “the suspected Minneapolis school shooter” and trans people a week or two ago.
The student – who attends Utah Valley University – later condemned both the shooter and those who making distasteful comments in the wake of Kirk’s death.
“First off, you sick f—— psychos that think this is the answer, it’s not. I don’t know what else to say,” Kozak said, labeling Kirk’s manner of death “awful.”
“Charlie had two kids and a wife, and not to make this about me, but I have two kids and a wife,” he said in the video. “It’s a tragedy and it’s hard to grapple with.”
Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk.
