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An external review released on Sept. 25 has found no evidence that Utah Valley University employees acted in “bad faith” following Charlie Kirk’s assassination last year, but found several security lapses, including the failure to conduct a formal security assessment.
The university commissioned an independent review to examine its security measures following the Sept. 10, 2025 fatal shooting of Kirk, co-founder of nonprofit organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA). The conservative commentator was shot and killed while speaking to a crowd of students during a TPUSA event at the university in Orem, Utah.
The report said university officials had raised concerns about holding the event in the courtyard but ultimately agreed after TPUSA “insisted upon” an outdoor venue, with one TPUSA representative saying Kirk had previously spoken on campus and the organization was familiar with the location.
The university also proposed using its ticketing system for the event, but TPUSA requested to use its own. The report said the university should have retained decision-making authority over key security matters.
“Those decisions placed the event in an area that was more difficult to control and limited [Utah Valley University’s] ability to obtain reliable, real-time information regarding anticipated attendance and crowd size,” the report stated.
The event location “created significant protective operations considerations,” the report said, but the planning process failed to include a documented line-of-sight assessment, pre-event briefing, or walk-through with security stakeholders. Nor was there clear coordination with Kirk’s private security team and external law enforcement partners, it said.
According to the report, Utah Valley University Police Department chief Jeff Long attempted to arrange a face-to-face meeting with TPUSA security supervisor Dan Flood before the event, but it did not take place.
“Such a meeting would have provided another opportunity to review roles, confirm post assignments, address concerns, identify changes in conditions, and ensure that both groups had a shared understanding of the security posture,” it stated.
The university also did not specifically assign any personnel to monitor camera feeds in real time for security purposes during the event, according to the report.
Kirk’s family lawyer Brett Parkinson said in a statement that Utah Valley University hosted the event and therefore assumed responsibility for the safety of all in attendance, including Kirk.
“The buck stopped with UVU leadership and law enforcement,” Parkinson said, referring to the university. “Justice for Charlie and his family requires true accountability for UVU’s fatal shortcomings that day.”
Last week, Kirk’s family announced a wrongful death notice accusing Utah Valley University officials of hastening his death through “reckless decisions,” including failing to conduct an adequate risk assessment, establish a secure perimeter, and to have first responders immediately available, which led to Kirk being taken to a hospital in a private vehicle instead of an ambulance.
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Security lapses at Utah campus where Charlie Kirk was killed, review says
- Published
An independent review has pointed to a number of security shortcomings at the Utah campus where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead last year.
The report said Utah Valley University (UVU) did not carry out a proper written security assessment nor prepare an event action plan, deferring key decision-making about the event to Kirk's conservative organisation Turning Point USA.
It also said that Kirk's aides had insisted on a outdoor venue, overriding security concerns from campus officials, who then failed to properly assess the dangers.
The 31-year-old activist had been addressing thousands of people in an Orem campus courtyard when he was shot from a nearby rooftop on 10 September 2025.
Kirk's family said the report reinforced their concerns about how the event was managed.
University officials had raised concerns in August 2025 about holding the event at a location surrounded by tall buildings and had suggested alternative venues, including some indoors, the report, external - published by UVU - says.
"But a Turning Point representative insisted that Kirk speak at a campus courtyard because he had been there previously and the organisation was familiar with the location," it adds.
Despite the "significant protective operations considerations", no line-of-sight assessment was documented in the planning process, the external consultants note.
They also identified shortcomings in the co-ordination between university police and Kirk's private security team.
A proposed meeting between the university's police chief and Turning Point security shortly before the event did not take place, the report said.
The reviewers described the absence of a joint security briefing and walk-through as a missed opportunity to have identified risks, clarified responsibilities and considered additional security measures.
However, the review concluded that no university employee or representative had acted in bad faith or shown "willful and wanton disregard" for anyone's safety.
Kirk's family has previously accused the university of serious security failures and has filed a wrongful-death notice, a step that can precede legal action.
The family's lawyer, Brett Parkinson, said the independent report released on Friday backed up the concerns raised by Kirk's loved ones.
"The buck stopped with UVU leadership and law enforcement," Parkinson said in a statement to the Associated Press. "Justice for Charlie and his family requires true accountability for UVU's fatal shortcomings that day."
When asked for comment on the findings, Turning Point USA referred to Parkinson's statement.
The review makes numerous recommendations aimed at improving security for major campus events.
UVU President Jon Anderson said the university must "learn from the findings of this review, and follow through on its recommendations".
It has previously been reported that the campus police failed to conduct security procedures that are common practice at US high-profile events, including flying a drone to monitor rooftops or security screening like bag checks and metal detectors.
Kirk had been debating UVU students about US mass shootings, as part of a series of events across different university campuses, when he was shot in the neck shortly after noon. He was rushed to hospital but later pronounced dead.
His alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder in connection with Kirk's death. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
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- Published10 September
Open article →GDELTUtah
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A new report on Charlie Kirk’s assassination last year says his Turning Point USA organisation insisted he speak outdoors despite security concerns, while the university where he was killed did not properly assess dangers like the possibility of a rooftop shooter.
Those were among the key findings in an after-action report released on Friday by Utah Valley University.
The external, independent review assessed security procedures for the conservative’s September 10, 2025, talk on the Orem, Utah, campus, the university said.
Investigators examined planning conversations between Turning Point and university officials, and the university’s response to the shooting.
The university did not conduct a formal security assessment, did not create a written event action plan and deferred critical decision making to Turning Point USA, the report said.
According to the report, a Turning Point representative insisted at an August 2025 planning meeting that Mr Kirk speak at a courtyard on campus because he had been there previously and the organisation was familiar with the location.
Some university officials expressed reservations about holding the event in an outdoor space with tall buildings around, but ultimately allowed the event to proceed.
“In our assessment, those decisions were consequential,” the report said.
The outdoor location “created significant protective operations considerations”, the report said, but the planning process failed to include a documented line-of-sight assessment, pre-event briefing or walkthrough with security stakeholders.
Nor was there clear co-ordination with the speaker’s private security team and external law enforcement partners, the report said.
In a statement, Utah Valley president Jon Anderson said the university has a responsibility to “learn from the findings of this review, and follow through on its recommendations.”
“This requires humility, an honest examination of our policies and practices, and a commitment to act on what we learn,” said Mr Anderson, who took over as president last month.
He added that the university has made “meaningful progress in strengthening campus safety over the past year”.
That includes hiring a chief public safety officer to co-ordinate with campus police and other emergency response agencies and hiring more campus police officers.
Tyler Robinson has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder in the shooting, a charge that could make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
Prosecutors say he told his romantic partner that he “had enough of his (Kirk’s) hatred”. No trial date has been set.
Last week, Mr Kirk’s family sent a wrongful death notice — a precursor to a possible lawsuit — accusing Utah Valley officials of hastening his death with a string of “reckless decisions”.
They included failing to conduct an adequate risk assessment, failing to establish a secure perimeter and failing to have first responders immediately available, which led to Mr Kirk being taken to a hospital in a private vehicle instead of an ambulance.
The family’s lawyer, Brett Parkinson, said in a statement that the report reaffirms those allegations. By hosting the event, he said, Utah Valley assumed responsibility for the safety of all in attendance, including Kirk.
“The buck stopped with UVU leadership and law enforcement,” Mr Parkinson said. “Justice for Charlie and his family requires true accountability for UVU’s fatal shortcomings that day.”
Open article →GDELTUtah
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OREM, Utah – A new report on Charlie Kirk’s assassination says his Turning Point USA organization insisted he speak outdoors despite security concerns, while the university where he was killed didn’t properly assess dangers such as the possibility of a rooftop shooter.
Those were among the key findings in an after-action report released Friday by Utah Valley University. The external, independent review found that the university failed to conduct a formal security assessment, did not create a written event action plan and deferred critical decision making for the conservative activist’s talk to Turning Point USA.
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Kirk, 31, was killed on Sept. 10, 2025, by a sniper perched on a rooftop more than 400 feet (122 meters) away, authorities said. He had been debating students in an outdoor courtyard on the Orem, Utah, campus surrounded by tall buildings and elevated walkways, and with several thousand people in attendance.
The report makes nearly 150 recommendations, including hiring a police sergeant to focus on campus events and creating clear criteria for when events must be moved indoors or to more controllable venues because of crowd size and line-of-sight concerns.
In a statement, Utah Valley President Jon Anderson said the university has a responsibility to “learn from the findings of this review, and follow through on its recommendations.”
“This requires humility, an honest examination of our policies and practices, and a commitment to act on what we learn,” said Anderson, who took over as president last month. He added that the university has made “meaningful progress in strengthening campus safety over the past year.”
That includes hiring a chief public safety officer to coordinate with campus police and other emergency response agencies and hiring more campus police officers. At the time of the shooting, the university had just 13 sworn officers, which the report said was not sufficient for Utah Valley's size and the types of events and activities held on its campus. Utah Valley is the state's largest university, with about 50,000 students on a sprawling campus beneath the Wasatch Mountains.
Tyler Robinson has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder in the shooting, a charge that could make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Prosecutors say he told his romantic partner that he “had enough of his (Kirk’s) hatred.” No trial date has been set.
Last week, Kirk’s family sent a wrongful death notice — a precursor to a possible lawsuit — accusing Utah Valley officials of hastening his death with a string of “reckless decisions.” They included failing to conduct an adequate risk assessment, failing to establish a secure perimeter and failing to have first responders immediately available, which led to Kirk being taken to a hospital in a private vehicle instead of an ambulance.
The family’s lawyer, Brett Parkinson, said in a statement that the report reaffirms those allegations. By hosting the event, he said, Utah Valley assumed responsibility for the safety of all in attendance, including Kirk.
“The buck stopped with UVU leadership and law enforcement,” Parkinson said. “Justice for Charlie and his family requires true accountability for UVU’s fatal shortcomings that day.”
According to the after-action report, a Turning Point representative insisted at an August 2025 planning meeting that Kirk speak at a courtyard on campus because he had been there previously and the organization was familiar with the location. Some Utah Valley officials expressed reservations about holding the event in an outdoor space with tall buildings around, but ultimately allowed the event to proceed.
“In our assessment, those decisions were consequential,” the report said.
The location “created significant protective operations considerations,” the report said, but the planning process failed to include a documented line-of-sight assessment, pre-event briefing or walk-through with security stakeholders. Nor was there clear coordination with the speaker’s private security team and external law enforcement partners, the report said.
An Associated Press review found that the campus did not use several public safety practices that have become standard at events around the country. Among other things, campus police did not fly a drone to monitor rooftops or coordinate with local law enforcement to secure the event attended by about 3,000 people. Nor were there bag checks or metal detectors.
___
Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.
Open article →GDELTUtah
Goldstein: -10.0Tone: -3.5
A new report on Charlie Kirk’s assassination says his Turning Point USA organization insisted he speak outdoors despite security concerns, while the university where he was killed didn’t properly assess dangers such as the possibility of a rooftop shooter.
Those were among the key findings in an after-action report released Friday by Utah Valley University. The external, independent review found that the university failed to conduct a formal security assessment, did not create a written event action plan and deferred critical decision making for the conservative activist’s talk to Turning Point USA.
Kirk, 31, was killed on Sept. 10, 2025, by a sniper perched on a rooftop more than 400 feet (122 meters) away, authorities said. He had been debating students in an outdoor courtyard on the Orem, Utah, campus surrounded by tall buildings and elevated walkways, and with several thousand people in attendance.
The report makes nearly 150 recommendations, including hiring a police sergeant to focus on campus events and creating clear criteria for when events must be moved indoors or to more controllable venues because of crowd size and line-of-sight concerns.
In a statement, Utah Valley President Jon Anderson said the university has a responsibility to “learn from the findings of this review, and follow through on its recommendations.”
“This requires humility, an honest examination of our policies and practices, and a commitment to act on what we learn,” said Anderson, who took over as president last month. He added that the university has made “meaningful progress in strengthening campus safety over the past year.”
That includes hiring a chief public safety officer to coordinate with campus police and other emergency response agencies and hiring more campus police officers. At the time of the shooting, the university had just 13 sworn officers, which the report said was not sufficient for Utah Valley’s size and the types of events and activities held on its campus. Utah Valley is the state’s largest university, with about 50,000 students on a sprawling campus beneath the Wasatch Mountains.
Tyler Robinson has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder in the shooting, a charge that could make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted. Prosecutors say he told his romantic partner that he “had enough of his (Kirk’s) hatred.” No trial date has been set.
Last week, Kirk’s family sent a wrongful death notice — a precursor to a possible lawsuit — accusing Utah Valley officials of hastening his death with a string of “reckless decisions.” They included failing to conduct an adequate risk assessment, failing to establish a secure perimeter and failing to have first responders immediately available, which led to Kirk being taken to a hospital in a private vehicle instead of an ambulance.
The family’s lawyer, Brett Parkinson, said in a statement that the report reaffirms those allegations. By hosting the event, he said, Utah Valley assumed responsibility for the safety of all in attendance, including Kirk.
“The buck stopped with UVU leadership and law enforcement,” Parkinson said. “Justice for Charlie and his family requires true accountability for UVU’s fatal shortcomings that day.”
According to the after-action report, a Turning Point representative insisted at an August 2025 planning meeting that Kirk speak at a courtyard on campus because he had been there previously and the organization was familiar with the location. Some Utah Valley officials expressed reservations about holding the event in an outdoor space with tall buildings around, but ultimately allowed the event to proceed.
“In our assessment, those decisions were consequential,” the report said.
The location “created significant protective operations considerations,” the report said, but the planning process failed to include a documented line-of-sight assessment, pre-event briefing or walk-through with security stakeholders. Nor was there clear coordination with the speaker’s private security team and external law enforcement partners, the report said.
An Associated Press review found that the campus did not use several public safety practices that have become standard at events around the country. Among other things, campus police did not fly a drone to monitor rooftops or coordinate with local law enforcement to secure the event attended by about 3,000 people. Nor were there bag checks or metal detectors.
___
Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.
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