PRAGUE, Czech Republic — David Kozák, a 24-year-old student, carried out the December 21, 2023, shooting at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts in central Prague. The attack killed 14 people and injured 25, becoming the deadliest mass shooting in the modern history of the Czech Republic.
The shooting took place at the university building on Jan Palach Square. Police entered the premises and searched for the attacker while students and staff sought safety. Kozák died by suicide as officers closed in, authorities subsequently confirmed.
Investigation linked the attacker to other killings
Investigators also linked Kozák to the killing of his father in Hostouň earlier that day and the December 15 murders of a man and his two-month-old daughter in Klánovice Forest. Those three deaths were separate from the 14 victims of the university attack. Czech police said a note found at his home contained an admission to the forest killings.
Reporting on the investigation’s findings in June 2024 indicated that Kozák acted alone. Investigators found no evidence of an accomplice or that a group had radicalized him. According to Seznam Zprávy, which cited sources familiar with the case file, investigators concluded that his violence was directed against society rather than a specific individual.
Remembering the victims
The tragedy prompted mourning across the Czech Republic. Charles University established remembrance initiatives and provided psychological assistance to people affected by the attack. A temporary memorial honoring the victims was unveiled at Jan Palach Square on June 21, 2024.
The David Kozák shooting refers to the December 2023 Prague university attack, and should be clearly dated when discussed or republished.
