Who is Hunter Kozak? Utah Student Who Spoke with Charlie Kirk Moments Before Assassination

A shocking tragedy unfolded at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a campus event. Just seconds before the gunfire, a student named Hunter Kozak had exchanged words with him in a heated but civil debate.

Who is Hunter Kozak?

Hunter Kozak is a mathematics student at Utah Valley University. He became the last person to speak with Charlie Kirk during the Q&A session before the assassination. Kozak questioned Kirk over his controversial remarks linking transgender people to mass shootings.

The exchange between the two was tense but respectful. Kozak pressed Kirk with a question: “How many transgender Americans have been mass shooters in the last 10 years?” Kirk replied, “Too many,” before Kozak corrected him with the number five. Moments later, a single shot was fired from a distant rooftop, hitting Kirk.

Emotional Response from Kozak

On Thursday, Kozak released a three-minute video on Instagram where he broke down in tears. He described the killing as “a tragedy” and urged people not to celebrate the violence.

“First off, you sick psychos that think this is the answer – it’s not,” Kozak said. “It’s awful. A father doesn’t have his kids anymore.”

He added that while he disagreed strongly with Kirk’s views, he still recognized him as a human being who did not deserve such a death. “Man, dude, he is still a human being. Have we forgotten that?” Kozak asked in his emotional message.

The Debate Before the Shooting

Kozak had been following Kirk’s comments online. Days earlier, he criticized Kirk for falsely suggesting that a suspected Minneapolis school shooter was transgender. Kozak accused Kirk of unfairly targeting the trans community.

When he learned Kirk would visit UVU, Kozak decided to attend and challenge him face-to-face. He later said the purpose was to show that disagreement can be expressed peacefully.

Aftermath and Investigation

Videos from the event showed Kirk speaking under a white tent and handing out hats before the shooting. The scene quickly turned into chaos as people fled.

The FBI confirmed on Thursday that they are searching for a “person of interest” in the case. The suspect, believed to be of college age, reportedly jumped from a rooftop and escaped in the confusion. Authorities released images of the suspect wearing a black shirt, sunglasses, and a hat.

So far, more than 200 tips have been sent in. Police urged the public to keep sharing information, saying “no tip is too small.”

Kozak’s Final Words

Kozak admitted the past 24 hours have been overwhelming. He emphasized that the point of his confrontation was dialogue, not hostility.

“It’s a tragedy,” he repeated. “And I’m part of a community that’s struggling to grapple with it right now.”