TikTok Influencer Was Last to Speak With Charlie Kirk Before Fatal Shooting
Hunter Kozak had the final conversation with Charlie Kirk prior to the conservative commentator's fatal shooting.
On September 10, Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, sustained a neck gunshot wound during an address to an audience at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was quickly transported to a local medical facility, where his death was subsequently confirmed. He was 31 years old.
A statement from Turning Point, issued that same evening, acknowledged Kirk's passing, stating, "It is with profound sadness that we, the leadership team of Turning Point USA, inform you that Charlie passed on to his eternal rest with Jesus Christ in Heaven earlier this afternoon."
Kozak, known for his political TikTok presence, received permission from Kirk's staff to pose a question to the political figure at the gathering, securing the second spot in the queue. Shortly after Kozak's inquiry regarding gun violence in the U.S., Kirk was shot, positioning the young influencer as the final individual to converse with Kirk before his tragic demise.
Who Was Charlie Kirk? Discover the Deceased Founder of Turning Point USA
Continue reading to find out more about Kozak.
He Manages a Political TikTok Presence
Kozak boasts slightly more than 40,000 followers on TikTok, using the platform to share content on politics, language studies, and philosophical concepts.
Kozak and his spouse identify as politically left-leaning. As reported by the New York Times, their "home's main living area features banners representing Black Lives Matter, Ukraine, L.G.B.T.Q. rights, alongside an American flag."
Despite their divergent political stances, Kozak recognized a significant shared value with Kirk: "Though I strongly differ with Charlie's views, I respect that his primary focus was freedom of expression," he conveyed to the Times.
He Was Raised in the Mormon Faith
The Times additionally noted that both Kozak and his wife were brought up within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and encountered each other while attending Brigham Young University. Both have since departed from the religion.
Charlie Kirk's Team Greenlit His Inquiry
Kirk's staff cleared Kozak's question before the event, he disclosed to ABC in an interview released on September 12. Kozak informed ABC that he conveyed to a staff member his disagreement with Kirk's positions and had a question ready. The influencer recounted being subsequently informed that he would be the second individual granted the opportunity to question Kirk.
"Do you know the number of transgender Americans who have been involved in mass shootings over the past decade?" Kozak inquired, prompting Kirk to respond, "An excessive amount."
(A study conducted by the Violence Prevention Project revealed that cisgender males were responsible for 98% of mass shootings in the U.S. — a substantial proportion. The same study indicated that 2% of mass shootings were perpetrated by cisgender females, with less than 1% attributed to transgender individuals.)
Kozak then informed Kirk that the correct figure was five, prior to asking, "Can you state how many mass shooters have existed in America throughout the past decade?"
Kirk replied, "Are we including or excluding gang-related violence?" moments before the shooting occurred.
He Recently Celebrated the Birth of His Second Child
Kozak and his spouse welcomed their second offspring on September 7. The couple informed the New York Times that they spent the days preceding the gathering in the hospital's NICU, yet attended Kirk's event "because they felt it was crucial to listen to him, record his statements, and express their own perspectives."
He Has Aided Law Enforcement
Kozak unequivocally stated in a video he posted on social media on September 11th that he denounces the shooting and is assisting officials.
"It's terrible; a father no longer has his children. Charlie had a wife and two children. And, without making this about myself, I also have a wife and two children," he expressed then. "And if my one-year-old son... His one-year-old son will mature without any recollections of his father."
Ivanka Trump Responds to Charlie Kirk's Killing: 'Profoundly Personal'
A 22-year-old suspect was apprehended thirty-three hours following Kirk's death, after allegedly admitting to the shooting and surrendering to law enforcement officials.
