Story summary
A new report released on Friday by Utah Valley University details significant security oversights that led to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, during an outdoor event on September 10, 2025. The university's external review found that despite concerns from university officials about holding the event outdoors near tall buildings, Turning Point USA insisted on using a familiar courtyard location for Kirk’s speech. The report highlights multiple security deficiencies, including the lack of a formal risk assessment and an inadequate response plan for outdoor events.
The university also deferred critical decision-making to Turning Point USA without properly assessing potential threats, such as elevated observation points surrounding the event area. As a result, Kirk was left vulnerable to a sniper who shot him from a rooftop more than 400 feet away while he addressed a crowd of around 3,000 people.
In response to these findings, Kirk’s family filed a wrongful death notice against Utah officials, alleging that the university made “reckless” decisions leading to his assassination. The report identifies ten key areas for improvement in future security measures at the university. James Gordon from Mail Online and others have highlighted these issues as critical failures in campus safety protocols. Additionally, there is ongoing debate over whether anyone involved acted with "bad faith" or "willful disregard," though the review generally concludes that no such malfeasance was evident. However, it underscores the need for stricter security procedures to prevent future tragedies.
Written for “Charlie Kirk Assassination Report” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
Utah Valley University has released a 158-page report into the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on campus last year, when he was shot and killed during a public speaking event in the school's central courtyard.
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he → release → courtyard
The report, conducted independently by the Lake Forest Group but commissioned and released by the school, identified 10 "key findings" aimed at improving security for future events and concluded that no one at UVU acted "in bad faith or in willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others."
Among those key takeaways, the reviewers found that UVU's application of its own policies "was significantly inconsistent;" security was insufficient for a high-profile, outdoor event and there was no one in the university police department assigned to monitor campus security cameras.
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security → conduct → cameras
The reviewers also recommended reevaluating staffing levels and training given the university's size and potential for risk.
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reviewers → recommend → risk
One concern raised in the report is that while universities have established systems to identify and thwart internal threats since the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, those measures weren't applicable in the Kirk case because accused assassin Tyler Robinson had no connection to the school.
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Robinson → raise → school
The report also concluded a timeline of major events in the lead-up to Kirk's visit to UVU between July 10 and Sept. 9, 2025.
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report → conclude → July
Several "key decision points" were identified between Aug. 25 and the day of Kirk's murder on Sept. 10.
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points → identify → Sept.
On Aug. 25, the outdoor courtyard location remained the event venue despite concerns from UVU officials about their ability to control it, according to the review.
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location → remain → review
Two days later, the event was approved without a documented security assessment plan in place.
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event → approve → place
Campus police and TPUSA security had their "first direct security coordination" on Sept. 3, a week before the event.
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police → have → event
On Sept. 8, TPUSA organizers raised their concerns about rooftop access in the area above where Kirk would be speaking.
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Kirk → raise → area
The report states that UVU Police Chief Jeffrey Long sent TPUSA security supervisor Dan Flood a text stating, "We got you covered," but the review claims that the text was "in reference to the Hall of Flags outdoor pedestrian walkway."
Flood arrived in person on campus on Sept. 10 with the TPUSA security team.
"
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Flood → state → team
Dan Flood, TPUSA Security Supervisor, texted Chief Long advising that TPUSA security personnel had arrived on campus," the report states.
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report → texte → campus
"Chief Long engaged in a series of text communications with Flood, to include several regarding individuals located on the Hall of Flags outdoor pedestrian walkway and the Fountain Courtyard area where a canopy would be set up where Kirk would be speaking.
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Kirk → engage → walkway
These text exchanges revealed the primary security focus for TPUSA was the Hall of Flags outdoor pedestrian walkway above the canopy.
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focus → reveal → canopy
This account differs from language in the Kirk family's notice of claim against UVU, filed last week, which identified the Sorensen Center rooftop as an area of concern, not the Hall of Flags walkway.
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which → differ → Flags
The Hall of Flags walkway was closed for the event, but TPUSA security never met with university police in person, according to the review.
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security → close → review
Ultimately, prosecutors allege that Robinson climbed atop the Losee Center building, which is to the northeast of the courtyard, and fired the fatal shot from there.
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which → allege → shot
The Hall of Flags walkway is directly above where Kirk was speaking.
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Kirk → speak → Flags
"This report reaffirms the facts we laid out in our Notice of Claim: that UVU security was woefully understaffed and unprepared to manage the obvious risks associated with an event of this nature," Kirk family attorney Brett Parkinson said in a statement to Fox News Digital Friday.
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Parkinson → reaffirm → Digital
UVU hosted this event, and in doing so, assumed responsibility for the safety of all in attendance, including Charlie."
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UVU → host → Charlie
As the family alleged last week, University Police Chief Jeffrey Long allegedly told Turning Point USA organizers that "I got you covered" when they raised concerns about rooftop access above the courtyard where Kirk was ultimately shot and killed by a sniper.
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Kirk → allege → sniper
"The buck stopped with UVU leadership and law enforcement," Parkinson said.
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Parkinson → stop → leadership
"Justice for Charlie and his family requires true accountability for UVU’s fatal shortcomings that day."
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Justice → require → shortcomings
A university spokesperson told Fox News the school has no further comment beyond a statement released on behalf of UVU President Jon Anderson.
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school → tell → Anderson
"September 10 will always be part of UVU’s history, but it will not define our future," he said.
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he → define → future
"Our responsibility is to care for our community, learn from the findings of this review and follow through on its recommendations.
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responsibility → care → recommendations
This requires humility, an honest examination of our policies and practices and a commitment to act on what we learn."
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we → require → what
Fox News' Matt Finn and Nikki DiRico contributed to this report.
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Finn → contribute → report
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