A new report on the assassination of Charlie Kirk last year indicates that his organization, Turning Point USA, insisted he speak outdoors despite security concerns, while the university where he was killed did not adequately assess potential dangers, such as the possibility of a sniper on a rooftop. The findings are part of an independent, after-action review of security procedures for Kirk's Sept. 10, 2025, talk on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem.
Investigators examined planning conversations between Turning Point USA and university officials, as well as the university's response to the shooting. The report stated that the university did not conduct a formal security assessment, failed to create a written event action plan, and deferred critical decision-making to Turning Point USA.
Kirk, 31, was killed by a sniper positioned on a rooftop more than 400 feet away. He had been participating in a debate with students in an outdoor courtyard that was surrounded by tall buildings and attended by several thousand people. According to the report released Friday, a Turning Point representative at an August 2025 planning meeting insisted on using a specific courtyard for the event, citing the organization's familiarity with the location. Despite some university officials expressing reservations about holding the event outdoors with surrounding tall buildings, the event proceeded as planned.
"In our assessment, those decisions were consequential," the report stated. It also noted that the outdoor location "created significant protective operations considerations." However, the planning process lacked a documented line-of-sight assessment, a pre-event briefing, or a walk-through with security stakeholders. Coordination with the speaker's private security team and external law enforcement was also insufficient, the report found.
Earlier this month, Kirk's family sent a wrongful death notice to Utah officials, alleging that Utah Valley University officials made a series of "reckless" decisions that left Kirk vulnerable to the rooftop sniper. The family is considering a lawsuit.
Tyler Robinson, a Utah resident, surrendered to authorities the day after the shooting. Prosecutors allege he told a romantic partner that he "had enough of his (Kirk’s) hatred." Robinson has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, a charge that carries the potential for the death penalty if he is convicted. A judge ordered the case to proceed toward trial in September, but a date has not yet been set.
An Associated Press review previously found that the Orem campus did not implement several public safety practices considered standard for events of this nature. Campus police staffing levels were below recommended levels for a school of its size. Additionally, the university did not deploy a drone to monitor rooftops or coordinate with local law enforcement to secure the event, which was attended by approximately 3,000 people. No bag checks or metal detectors were used.