New Review Finds Security Issues at Utah Valley University When Kirk was Killed - Newsweek
An independent review of the shooting that killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk last year shows several "actions, omissions, circumstances and institutional practices" warrant attention for Utah Valley University as the school considers how to strengthen security and safety for campus events moving forward.
Kirk, 31, was killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking to students at a Turning Point USA event. His public assassination sent shockwaves throughout social media, conservative politics and college campuses.
The 158-page review released Friday indicated TPUSA "insisted" on the speaking event being held outdoors, creating "significant" protective obstacles.
"The speaking area was located in an open-access campus environment surrounded by buildings, elevated areas, pedestrian routes and multiple vantage points," according to the report. "These conditions made line-of-sight assessment, elevated-position review, building access control, arrival and departure planning, crowd control, protest management and fixed-post assignments especially important."
The review also determined that "at no time during the events leading up to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, or in its aftermath, did any employee or agent of UVU act in bad faith or in willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others."
Some of the findings indicated the university's existing monitoring and information-sharing resources "did not fully meet the need for focused investigations of specific threats or concerning behavior." The review also recommended the hiring of a police sergeant for campus events and the creation of clear criteria for when gatherings must be held indoors.
"This report reaffirms the facts we laid out in our Notice of Claim: that UVU security was woefully understaffed and unprepared to manage the obvious risks associated with an event of this nature," attorney Brett Parkinson, who represents Kirk's family, told Newsweek in a statement Friday. "UVU hosted this event, and in doing so, assumed responsibility for the safety of all in attendance, including Charlie. The buck stopped with UVU leadership and law enforcement. Justice for Charlie and his family requires true accountability for UVU’s fatal shortcomings that day."
The Kirk family announced earlier this month that Utah officials failed to prevent Charlie's killing despite a "specific tip" about rooftop access risk at the school.
"September 10 will always be part of UVU’s history, but it will not define our future," UVU President Jon Anderson said in a statement Friday. "Our responsibility is to care for our community, 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. While we’ve made meaningful progress in strengthening campus safety over the past year, this review provides additional recommendations that will continue to guide our work as we move forward with care, civility, and resilience."
Kirk's assassination occurred following a series of "entirely stunning failures and reckless decisions" by UVU officials, Parkinson told Newsweek earlier this month.
"His murder was entirely preventable and, in fact, would not have happened had the State of Utah and UVU followed through on their stated security promises, which included protecting the rooftops surrounding the quad where Charlie was speaking," Parkinson said in a statement. "Those failures not only robbed Charlie Kirk of his life, but also robbed his family of their husband, father, son, and brother, with impacts that will compound for the rest of their lives."
The notice of claim, which was filed September 9, preserves the right of Kirk's family to "pursue accountability" in his death, Parkinson said.
The filing, which named the university, its former president, campus police department, police chief and the state of Utah as prospective defendants, identified six alleged wrongful acts and negligence committed by UVU, including University Police Chief Jeffrey Long ignoring a tip about concerns raised about rooftop access at the school.
Tyler Robinson, 23, surrendered to authorities a day after Kirk's death. Prosecutors allege he told his romantic partner he "had enough of [Kirk's] hatred," adding that "some hate can't be negotiated out."
Robinson, who has been charged with aggravated murder, could face the death penalty if convicted. A judge ordered the case to proceed to trial on September 1, although a date has not yet been set.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Anna Commander and Dave Siminoff.
