OREM — Attorneys representing the family of Charlie Kirk say his death at Utah Valley University last year was "entirely preventable," alleging that lapses in security protocols by the university contributed to his shooting and killing.
The allegations were made in a notice of claim dated September 9, marking the first time the family has publicly blamed UVU. While not a lawsuit itself, the notice is a required preliminary step in Utah to pursue legal action against a public university as a governmental entity.
Kirk, a podcaster and founder of the student organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed moments into an event on campus in Orem, a little more than a year ago. He was answering a question from under a tent in a courtyard when a shot was fired, sending his audience running for cover, according to the notice of claim.
University leaders did not comment on the content of the legal claims on Wednesday, with UVU issuing an unsigned statement that the institution "addresses legal matters consistent with our established processes" and that its "focus remains on supporting our campus community."
Attorneys for the Kirk family state in the notice that six UVU police officers were assigned to the event, which was attended by some 3,000 people. The notice alleges the university did not seek assistance from other police departments and did not deploy drones or real-time surveillance video feeds to monitor rooftops surrounding the event space. The letter further alleges, without providing evidence in the notice, that UVU Police Chief Jeffrey Long's request for six additional officers for the event was denied by then-university President Astrid Tuminez.
The public access to a nearby rooftop had been a topic of discussion between a Turning Point USA representative and Chief Long prior to the shooting, according to the notice. A Turning Point representative reportedly informed Chief Long of a student's concern regarding roof access to the Sorensen Student Center, which was near the stage, requesting either controlled access or permission for a Turning Point staff member to be present. Chief Long is cited in the notice as responding, "I got you covered."
Authorities have stated that the fatal shot was fired from a different, further rooftop of the Losee Center. However, attorneys for Kirk's widow and parents contend that the earlier conversation led Turning Point USA to believe UVU had a plan to mitigate similar risks. Family attorney Brett Parkinson said in a prepared statement that Kirk's murder "would not have happened had the State of Utah and UVU followed through on their stated security promises, which included protecting the rooftops surrounding the quad where Charlie was speaking."
The eight-page letter from the family's attorneys is addressed to the office of Utah Attorney General Brown, which handles civil matters for state institutions. It also names Tuminez, the university's police department, and Chief Long.
Tyler Robinson, a 23-year-old Utah man, is accused of using his grandfather's hunting rifle to fatally shoot Kirk from a rooftop. A judge on September 1 ordered Robinson to stand trial for aggravated murder in Kirk's death. Prosecutors allege Robinson targeted Kirk for his political views and endangered his audience, and they have indicated they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted. Robinson has pleaded not guilty.
Kirk, described in the notice as a "rising political star" with a significant social media presence, was a close ally of President Donald Trump. His widow, Erika Kirk, has since succeeded him as head of Turning Point USA. Donald Trump Jr. attended a six-day hearing in Provo this summer alongside Kirk's parents in a show of support. The notice also points to a broader "spate of political violence" preceding Kirk's death, including references to an attempt on President Donald Trump’s life in Pennsylvania in 2024, an attack on former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband in 2022, and the killings of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband in 2025.
