An independent report released on Friday reveals that Turning Point USA insisted on an outdoor venue for Charlie Kirk’s September 10, 2025, speech at Utah Valley University despite campus security concerns, as the school faces claims over the fatal rooftop sniper shooting.
Utah Valley University Review Details Security Lapses and Venue Decisions
Utah Valley University published a 158-page independent report examining the circumstances around the September 10, 2025, assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during an outdoor speaking engagement on the Orem campus. Conducted by the Lake Forest Group, the review identified ten key findings aimed at improving campus event safety while concluding that no university employee acted in bad faith or with willful disregard for safety.
Investigators found that university officials recommended moving the event to a more secure location weeks prior to the shooting. However, a representative for Turning Point USA insisted upon an outdoor location that created significant protective operations challenges. The outdoor fountain courtyard area was surrounded by tall buildings and elevated walkways, including the Losee Center and the Sorenson Center.
The external review determined that the university failed to conduct a formal security assessment, did not create a written event action plan, and deferred critical decision-making to the political organization.
Text Communications and Missing Day-Of Security Briefings
Although campus police and Turning Point security held their first direct coordination on September 3, a planned face-to-face walkthrough and briefing on the morning of the event never took place.
According to the report, UVU Police Chief Jeffrey Long sent text messages to Turning Point security supervisor Dan Flood regarding individuals spotted on walkways. Fox News detailed how Chief Long sent a text stating We got you covered,
which investigators clarified was directed at the Hall of Flags outdoor pedestrian walkway rather than the surrounding rooftops.
The review noted that Turning Point security focused primarily on the Hall of Flags pedestrian walkway above the speaking canopy. Meanwhile, prosecutors state that accused gunman Tyler Robinson climbed onto the roof of the Losee Center northeast of the courtyard and fired the fatal shot from there.
Legal Fallout and Wrongful Death Claims Against the University
Kirk’s family filed a notice of claim signaling an impending wrongful death lawsuit, arguing that the institution rushed him into a vulnerable setup comparable to walking into a fishbowl.
Brett Parkinson, an attorney representing the Kirk family, released a statement emphasizing accountability for the tragedy. The buck stopped with UVU leadership and law enforcement,
Parkinson said, adding that Justice for Charlie and his family requires true accountability for UVU’s fatal shortcomings that day.
University President Jon Anderson, who assumed office in August, acknowledged the institution’s responsibility to examine the findings. In a formal statement, Anderson pledged that the school would learn from the findings of this review, and follow through on its recommendations,
noting that the campus has made meaningful progress in strengthening safety measures over the past year.
Criminal proceedings continue separately against 23-year-old Tyler Robinson, who has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and faces the death penalty if convicted.
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