Kirk family files claim alleging security lapses at Utah Valley University
The family of the slain conservative activist has filed a legal notice accusing Utah Valley University and state officials of failing to provide adequate security for his campus appearance.
The family of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist killed during a 2025 campus event, has filed a legal notice alleging that Utah Valley University and state authorities did not take sufficient steps to protect him. The filing, submitted on September 9, a day before the first anniversary of Kirk's death, claims the university failed to conduct a proper security assessment, assign enough police officers, provide on-site medical assistance, and address warnings about unsecured rooftops surrounding the event venue.
"Through a series of failures and decisions, the UVU Parties created a foreseeable danger to Charlie," the notice states.
The notice also asserts that holding an outdoor event in a courtyard surrounded by tall buildings exposed Kirk to heightened risk, describing the setting as a "fishbowl" for potential attackers. The family's attorney, D. Loren Washburn, highlighted the relevance of prior rooftop attacks, referencing an attempted assassination of President Donald Trump the previous year.
Utah Valley University acknowledged receipt of the claim and said it would handle the matter according to its established legal processes, adding that its priority remains supporting the campus community. The alleged shooter, 23-year-old Tyler Robinson of Utah, is scheduled to appear in court next month for a scheduling hearing.