Charlie Kirk assassination: The security failures alleged by his family, explained
The potential civil case is separate from the criminal prosecution of Tyler Robinson, who is accused of shooting Kirk from the roof of the university's student resource center.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at a Utah university event on September 10, 2025, according to his family's allegations. The family claims UVU and Utah officials failed to implement basic security measures that could have prevented the shooting. These alleged "reckless decisions" include inadequate rooftop security, lack of drone surveillance, absence of bag checks and metal detectors, insufficient perimeter protection, and under-staffed police presence.
The shooting occurred outside an outdoor courtyard at UVU in Orem, Utah, where Kirk was speaking to an audience of about 3,000 people. The university claims it received the family's notice but has not accepted their allegations and will address the matter through its established legal processes. UVU spokesperson Sharon Turner stated that the school is focused on supporting its campus community. The Utah Attorney General's Office has not commented on potential litigation.
The family's allegations focus on the rooftop security issue, citing a warning from Turning Point USA, Kirk's host organization, about the security risks posed by nearby rooftops. Despite the warning, the family argues that university police failed to control access to the rooftop from which Kirk was shot. The family also questions the adequacy of police staffing, citing six campus officers and six private security personnel, claiming the presence was below recommended levels for an event of that size.
The family argues that the rooftop attack should have been a particular concern due to the attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in July 2024. Kirk's attorney, D. Loren Washburn, cited this earlier attack in the notice, emphasizing the risk of a rooftop shooter should have been apparent when planning Kirk's event.
The university maintains it was expanding its police force after the shooting. The family's allegations extend beyond security before the shooting, alleging that there were no first responders immediately available and Kirk was taken to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle instead of an ambulance.
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