Student Who Engaged Charlie Kirk Moments Before His Death Speaks Out on Tragic Utah Shooting
The shocking assassination of conservative activist and commentator Charlie Kirk during a debate at Utah Valley University (UVU) continues to send shockwaves across the nation. Kirk, just 31 years old, was gunned down on Wednesday, September 10, while engaging in a heated exchange with a student during one of his Turning Point USA events. The incident not only claimed the life of a rising political figure but also left thousands of attendees traumatized, and it has since drawn commentary from the very student whose words preceded Kirk’s final moments.
A Debate That Turned Into Tragedy
Kirk had long been known for his willingness to host live debates on controversial issues, often inviting questions from students in large public forums. On that fateful Wednesday, more than 3,000 students had gathered in the university courtyard to hear him speak about political polarization, gun violence, and other pressing topics.
Among them was Hunter Kozak, a mathematics student at UVU who is known online by the handle “staxiom.” Kozak stepped forward to challenge Kirk on issues surrounding gun violence and mass shootings, a subject that has increasingly become central to America’s political debates.
Eyewitnesses reported that Kirk was addressing Kozak’s points when the shot rang out. According to investigators, the bullet came from a high vantage point — the roof of the Losee Center, a large building with a direct line of sight to the event stage. Within seconds, panic ensued as Kirk fell back in his chair, struck fatally in the neck.
The Student Breaks His Silence
In the aftermath of the shooting, Kozak released a statement through a video on his social media accounts. Visibly shaken, the student expressed sorrow over the tragedy, calling it both heartbreaking and surreal.
“It is not the answer,” Kozak said, referring to the violent act. “I don’t know what else to say. A father doesn’t have his kid anymore. Charlie had two kids and a wife. And not to make this about me, but I also have two kids and a wife. If my one-year-old boy, like his one-year-old boy, has to grow up without memories of his dad… it is a tragedy.”
Kozak noted that the irony of the situation — debating Kirk on the very topic of mass shootings before witnessing one unfold before his eyes — was almost too painful to process. “I was trying to explain how peaceful the left was,” he explained. “That only makes sense if we stay peaceful.”
A Father Reflecting on Another Father
What struck many about Kozak’s response was the deeply personal way in which he connected his own family life to Kirk’s. Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika, and their two young children — a daughter born in 2022 and a son born in 2023.
Kozak, also a father of two, said the thought of children growing up without their fathers resonated with him on a profound level. “It is hard to grapple with,” he admitted. “And I am part of a community that is struggling to grapple with it.”
Condemning Those Who Celebrated
While many across the political spectrum condemned the assassination, expressing solidarity with Kirk’s family and denouncing political violence, social media also saw a disturbing wave of celebratory reactions from certain corners of the internet.
Kozak made it clear he found such responses abhorrent. “If you are salivating about what happened… don’t,” he said firmly. “I don’t know if any of my audience is, but if you are, you are not part of what I am trying to build here, at all.”
He emphasized that regardless of political differences, no one should lose sight of the basic humanity of others. To him, Kirk was not simply a polarizing public figure — he was a human being, a husband, and a father who deserved compassion in death.
What We Know About the Shooter
Authorities confirmed that the suspect is believed to have taken position on the roof of the Losee Center before firing the fatal shot. The FBI has since released footage of a potential person of interest and has urged the public to provide information.
Beau Mason, Utah’s public safety commissioner, said that the shooter had been tracked moving through stairwells and across the roof before and after the shooting. Evidence suggests he fled the campus into a nearby residential area.
The weapon used has been described as a high-powered bolt-action rifle. Investigators also revealed that engraved messages were discovered on the ammunition, raising chilling questions about the shooter’s motives and ideology.
A Nation on Edge
The killing of Charlie Kirk has amplified ongoing concerns about political violence in the United States. Utah Governor Spencer Cox described the act as a “political assassination” and vowed justice for the family. Former President Donald Trump, a close ally of Kirk, called the shooting “a dark moment for America” and ordered flags flown at half-mast nationwide in Kirk’s honor.
Meanwhile, college campuses across the country have faced a wave of lockdowns and threats in the wake of the tragedy, including the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland and the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
The Human Cost of Violence
Kozak’s reflections remind us that beyond political divides, violence leaves deep scars in communities. “A father doesn’t have his kid anymore,” he repeated. Those words, though simple, echo the loss that extends far beyond Kirk’s immediate family — to his supporters, to his critics, and to the entire nation grappling with the state of its discourse.
The student emphasized that he never intended his debate to escalate beyond words. “The whole point of debate is dialogue,” Kozak said. “It’s about challenging ideas, not destroying lives.”
Conclusion
The voice of the student who debated Kirk moments before his death provides a haunting yet human perspective on this tragedy. His message is clear: violence is never the answer, no matter how fierce the ideological battle.
As the investigation continues, the manhunt for the shooter intensifies, and the FBI follows leads into the suspect’s identity, the words of Hunter Kozak serve as a sobering reminder of what truly matters.
“Stay peaceful,” he urged. “That is the only way forward.”
At just 31 years old, Charlie Kirk’s life was cut short in front of thousands, but the conversations he sparked — and the tragic lessons from that day — will continue to shape America’s political and cultural landscape for years to come.
Adrian Hawthorne is a celebrated author and dedicated archivist who finds inspiration in the hidden stories of the past. Educated at Oxford, he now works at the National Archives, where preserving history fuels his evocative writing. Balancing archival precision with creative storytelling, Adrian founded the Hawthorne Institute of Literary Arts to mentor emerging writers and honor the timeless art of narrative.