Security lapses at Utah campus where Charlie Kirk was killed, review says
An independent review has identified a range of security shortcomings at the Utah Valley University (UVU) campus that hosted the event where 31‑year‑old activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead on 10 September 2025.
The report says UVU failed to carry out a written security assessment or prepare an event‑action plan, leaving key decisions to Turning Point USA, the conservative organisation that booked the speaker. The organisation’s insistence on an outdoor courtyard, despite the campus police noting the surrounding tall buildings as a risk, was overridden.
No line‑of‑sight assessment was documented, and the university police and Kirk’s private security team did not conduct a joint briefing or walk‑through before the event. A scheduled meeting between the two parties was cancelled.
The findings do not accuse any UVU employee of willful misconduct, but the review highlights that the institution failed to meet common security practices such as drone surveillance, bag checks, and metal‑detector screening.
Kirk’s family had already accused UVU of serious security failures and filed a wrongful‑death notice.
Lawyer Brett Parkinson stated the report backs the family’s claims, demanding accountability from UVU leadership and law enforcement.
Turning Point USA has referenced Parkinson’s statement in response to the findings. UVU President Jon Anderson pledged that the campus will learn from the review and implement its recommendations.
The alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder; prosecutors seek the death penalty.
