Review finds security lapses at Utah campus where Charlie Kirk was killed

An independent review has identified multiple security shortcomings at Utah Valley University, where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead.

Kirk was killed on 10 September 2025 at the Orem campus while addressing about 3,000 people. He was shot in the neck from a nearby rooftop, taken to hospital and later pronounced dead.

The review, published by the university, said UVU had not completed a proper written security assessment or prepared an event action plan. Key decisions about the event were left to Kirk’s conservative organisation, Turning Point USA.

Outdoor venue chosen despite warnings

Kirk’s aides insisted on holding the event outdoors. University officials had raised concerns in August 2025 about the courtyard’s position among tall buildings and suggested alternatives, including indoor venues.

The review said a Turning Point representative insisted on the courtyard because Kirk had spoken there before and the organisation knew the location. Despite the security concerns, no line-of-sight assessment was documented during planning.

Police and private security missed briefing

Reviewers also found shortcomings in coordination between university police and Kirk’s private security team. A proposed meeting between the university police chief and Turning Point security shortly before the event did not take place.

The report said a joint briefing and walk-through could have identified risks, clarified responsibilities and considered further security measures. It also concluded that no university employee or representative had acted in bad faith or shown a deliberate disregard for safety.

Family seeks accountability

Kirk’s family said the findings supported its earlier concerns about how the event was managed. It has filed a wrongful-death notice, a step that can precede legal action.

The family’s lawyer, Brett Parkinson, told the Associated Press that responsibility lay with UVU leadership and law enforcement. Turning Point USA referred questions about the findings to Parkinson’s statement.

The review includes recommendations for improving security at major campus events. UVU President Jon Anderson said the university must learn from the findings and implement the recommendations.

It had previously been reported that campus police did not use some security measures common at high-profile US events, including drone monitoring of rooftops, bag checks and metal detectors. Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, has pleaded not guilty; prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.