Kirk's family signals intent to sue, alleges 'stunning failures' led to assassination
The family of Charlie Kirk alleges that a "series of stunning failures and reckless decisions" by Utah Valley University led to the conservative activist's assassination.
Utah officials failed to prevent Charlie Kirk's assassination, according to his family's wrongful death notice. On September 10, 2025, a rooftop sniper shot Kirk, 31, at Utah Valley University, where he was debating students outdoors. The university and its officials have been criticized for lacking key safety measures. Kirk family attorney D. Loren Washburn blamed the university, its president, campus police, and the state of Utah for the tragedy.
He pointed out that the campus police staffing was far below recommended levels, drone surveillance was missing, and there were no bag checks or metal detectors. The notice, filed a day before the one-year anniversary of Kirk's death, names the university, its president, the campus police department, and the state of Utah. The AP is seeking comment from university officials, while the Utah Attorney General's Office declined to comment on potential litigation.
Kirk's family also alleged additional lapses, including inadequate risk assessment, no secure perimeter, and delayed first responders. In the aftermath, Tyler Robinson was arrested and charged with aggravated murder.
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