The family of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has filed a legal notice accusing Utah Valley University and state officials of "stunning failures and reckless decisions" that they claim led to his assassination in 2025. The notice alleges that security and monitoring for a Turning Point USA event at the university campus were inadequate, making Kirk an easy target.
Kirk, 31, was killed by a gunman who fired from a rooftop while Kirk was speaking to thousands of attendees on the university campus. In a statement shared with CBS News, the university acknowledged awareness of the claim and stated, "We are aware of the notice of claim. UVU addresses legal matters consistent with our established processes. Our focus remains on supporting our campus community."
The legal notice, filed on September 9, a day before the one-year anniversary of Kirk's death, is a customary precursor to a lawsuit. It names Utah Valley University, local law enforcement, the state of Utah, and other university officials as parties allegedly aware of threats against Kirk but failing to provide adequate protection.
"Through a series of stunning failures and reckless decisions, the UVU Parties created a foreseeable danger to Charlie," the notice contends. "Placing a politically controversial figure like Charlie Kirk in an outdoor event in the quad surrounded by tall buildings and other elevated observation platforms is accurately described as walking him into a fishbowl."
According to the family's allegations, the university failed to conduct a thorough security assessment, did not assign sufficient police officers, and neglected to have an ambulance on standby. The family also claims the university ignored warnings about the need to secure rooftops surrounding the courtyard where Kirk was speaking.
"The risk of a rooftop shooter should have been especially top-of-mind given the attempted assassination of President Trump, Charlie Kirk's close friend and political ally, by a rooftop shooter the previous year," wrote the family's attorney, D Loren Washburn, in the court filing.
Tyler Robinson, 23, of Utah, has been accused of shooting Kirk from a roof. Robinson is scheduled to appear in court next month to face charges including aggravated murder, a capital offense in Utah, and six other counts. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case.