Report Details Security Failures at Utah Valley University During Charlie Kirk Assassination
An independent review found that Utah Valley University lacked a robust security plan and failed to follow its own guidelines during the event where Charlie Kirk was killed.
An independent report released Friday has identified significant security lapses at Utah Valley University (UVU) on the day of Charlie Kirk's assassination, revealing a lack of a robust security plan and inconsistent adherence to university guidelines for major events. The report, a 158-page independent review, stated that while no university official acted in bad faith, several decisions warrant attention for future campus event safety.
The review highlighted that the September 10 Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event, featuring Kirk, presented characteristics that should have triggered a more formal event security planning process. These characteristics included Kirk's high-profile status, anticipated protest activity, uncertainty about attendance numbers, and the outdoor venue's proximity to potential elevated vantage points. Despite some coordination among university departments and TPUSA representatives, the report found no comprehensive written Security Assessment or Event Action Plan.
Investigators noted the outdoor location was surrounded by buildings and offered multiple vantage points, making critical security considerations like line-of-sight assessment, building access control, and crowd management particularly important. Although some concerns were recognized and addressed by university personnel, the planning process omitted key measures such as a structured walk-through with all security stakeholders and clear coordination with Kirk's private security team or external law enforcement. The initial security plan involved only three university law enforcement officers for an event attended by several thousand people, a number later increased to six after the university's policy chief noted the crowd size.
Furthermore, the report indicated that the university deferred crucial decisions, including the event's location, to TPUSA staff. University officials had expressed concerns in an August 2025 meeting about holding the event outdoors and suggested alternative locations. However, a TPUSA representative insisted on using a campus courtyard, citing familiarity with the space and previous use by Kirk. The organization's preference for its own ticketing process, rather than the university's, prevented school officials from knowing the exact attendance figures, a decision the report deemed consequential.
The university's actions were found to be "significantly inconsistent" with its policies for major events. The report also stated that TPUSA and Kirk's security team did not participate in the review.
Earlier this month, the Kirk family issued a wrongful death notice to the university, signaling an intent to file a lawsuit. The notice accused the school of making "reckless decisions," including the alleged lack of emergency first responders, which they claim hastened Kirk's death. Brett Parkinson, an attorney for the family, stated that accountability for UVU's "fatal shortcomings" is required for justice.
Utah Valley University President Jon Anderson acknowledged the report's findings, stating the university has a responsibility to learn from them and implement recommendations. He added that UVU has made substantial progress in strengthening campus safety over the past year.