The family of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has filed a notice of claim alleging that a "series of stunning failures and reckless decisions" by Utah Valley University led to his on-campus assassination last year. The notice, which preserves the family's right to pursue a lawsuit, claims the university failed to implement standard security measures and ignored specific warnings regarding rooftop access prior to the fatal shooting on Sept. 10, 2025.
Details of the Fatal Shooting
Kirk, the co-founder of the conservative student organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2025. Authorities stated the gunman fired from the rooftop of a campus building as Kirk addressed a crowd of approximately 3,000 people. The event was the first stop on Turning Point USA's nationwide "American Comeback Tour."
Allegations of Security Failures
According to the notice of wrongful death and survivor claims, which was dated Sept. 9 and addressed to the Utah Office of the Attorney General, the university failed to conduct a "meaningful risk assessment" before approving the outdoor location. The claim alleges the university did not dedicate sufficient security resources to the event, noting that only six campus police officers were assigned to manage the crowd of thousands.
Lawyers for the Kirk family, including Brett Parkinson, stated that the murder was entirely preventable. Parkinson asserted that the death would not have occurred if the State of Utah and UVU had followed through on security promises to protect the rooftops surrounding the quad where Kirk was speaking. The notice alleges that the university failed to monitor surveillance footage in real time, which could have prevented the tragedy.
Criminal Case and University Response
Surveillance footage shown during a preliminary hearing in the criminal prosecution of the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, reportedly showed an individual running across the roof of the Losee Center for Student Success toward what a police officer described as a "sniper's pad." Prosecutors in the criminal case noted that the shooter fired from the roof of the Losee Center, approximately 415 feet from where Kirk was speaking.
In the wake of the shooting, UVU announced it would initiate a comprehensive, independent review of the incident. Astrid Tuminez, who served as UVU president at the time of the assassination, stated that the findings of a third-party review would offer insights on how college campuses can improve response and preparedness. She noted the university intended to integrate those findings to strengthen safety practices for UVU and all higher education in Utah.
Ignored Warnings and Lack of Measures
The legal notice highlights specific warnings that were allegedly ignored. According to the claim, a Turning Point USA official contacted UVU Police Chief Jeffrey Long to express concern regarding student access to campus rooftops near the event setup. When the official asked if the university could control access or allow a security representative to be present on the roof, Chief Long reportedly responded, "I got you covered."
The Kirk family's counsel alleged this response led Turning Point USA to reasonably conclude that UVU had a plan to address the identified risk. However, the notice claims the university failed to establish a security perimeter and lacked essential measures such as metal detectors, bag checks, or drone surveillance for the rooftops. Furthermore, the notice alleges that because of the lack of emergency personnel, Kirk had to be transported to a hospital in a vehicle rather than an ambulance.
Legal Context and Defendants
The notice cited recent high-profile incidents of political violence as justification for the necessity of heightened security. These included the 2024 attempted assassination of President Donald Trump by a rooftop sniper, the 2025 murder of a Minnesota state legislator and her husband in their home, and the 2022 attack against Rep. Nancy Pelosi's husband. The claim argued that the risk of a rooftop shooter should have been a priority given the previous attempt on the life of Kirk's close friend and political ally, Donald Trump.
The prospective defendants named in the claim include Utah Valley University, the State of Utah, the Utah Valley University Police Department, Chief Jeffrey Long, and former UVU president Astrid Tuminez. The prospective plaintiffs include the Kirk estate, Kirk's wife Erika Kirk, and their two young children.
Official Statements
During a press briefing on Sept. 10, 2025, Chief Long stated that he had worked with Kirk's private security team to establish protocols for the event. Long noted that while the university was coordinating with Kirk's lead security officer, the tragedy occurred despite their efforts. "You try to get your bases covered and, unfortunately, today we didn't," Long said during that briefing.
While UVU's spokesperson previously stated they were unable to answer specific questions regarding the security plan, the university's website had noted that Kirk's lead security staff had coordinated with Chief Long regarding security measures. The Utah Office of the Attorney General has stated it does not comment on potential litigation.
