Charlie Kirk’s Family Prepares Lawsuit Against Utah Valley University Over Alleged Security Failures

BREAKING: Charlie Kirk’s family announces a wrongful death notice alleging UVU officials’ security failures led to his assassination, a step toward a possible lawsuit.

— Polymarket (@Polymarket) September 16, 2026

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Had Utah Valley University followed through on its promise to secure the area where conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was speaking, Kirk’s assassination never would have happened, his family asserts in a new legal claim.

“Placing a politically controversial figure like Charlie Kirk in an outdoor event in the quad surrounded by tall buildings and other elevated observation platforms is accurately described as walking him into a fishbowl,” the Sept. 9 document alleges.

Kirk’s family asserts that the university, its police department, then-President Astrid Tuminez and police Chief Jeff Long approved locating the speaking event at the riskier outdoor site without dedicating resources to make it safer.

The notice is the first step the family must take to sue the parties it named, who then have 60 days to respond. After that, according to Utah law, the family can take further legal action.

The university said Tuesday that it was aware of the notice and that it “addresses legal matters consistent with our established processes.”

“Our focus remains on supporting our campus community,” the statement said.

UVU has declined to answer many questions about the shooting until its independent review is released, which its new president has said will likely occur next month.

The university has said that Kirk’s team specifically requested the courtyard location for his event so he could engage with students walking by. And in the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s death, Long said, “You try to get your bases covered and, unfortunately, today we didn’t.”

In November, six months before Tuminez stepped down as president of UVU, she said in an interview that inquiries about the university’s security measures were “important questions,” but because the review was ongoing, it was important to wait for its release “in order to understand all aspects of security.”

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Reading through the notice of claim filed by the Kirk family against UVU that details one lapse of security after the next has been one of the hardest parts of the last few days. Campus events can be, and are, mostly very safe, but campus PD just has to do the basics.

TPUSA… https://t.co/7NkIYIpIFZ

— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) September 16, 2026

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Reading through the notice of claim filed by the Kirk family against UVU that details one lapse of security after the next has been one of the hardest parts of the last few days. Campus events can be, and are, mostly very safe, but campus PD just has to do the basics.

TPUSA texted, “Hello Chief Long – we received this message today from the student group…. ‘there is student roof access pretty close to where [Charlie Kirk] will be set up at Utah Valley.’” The TPUSA official had even added “it would be nice to either have it controlled access or allow one of my guys to be there as well. If Possible.” Chief Long replied “I got you covered.”

The rooftop was a well known hangout for local students. Beer bottles and other garbage was often spotted up there — they knew this vulnerability well. This was also just over a year post Butler, so this should’ve been top of mind.

But that wasn’t the only failure.

Only six campus PD officers were on site that day. There was no security briefing before the event. There was no written plan. Charlie’s security was larger than the campus police.

No drones were deployed or available by UVU campus PD, and TPUSA was not authorized to run their own. Nearby Orem PD has a sophisticated drone program but were never called to assist.

CCTV cameras on campus were not monitored in realtime.

Chief Long requested additional resources, but the request was not granted by the university president.

Only UVU had legal authority to secure, surveil, block, and manage access on campus. Charlie’s security could only maintain safety inside his “bubble” a space of 20-30 feet around him.

Charlie deserved the best, and he didn’t get it. But nothing novel or extraordinary was required to keep CK and the crowd safe. The basics were not even close to being covered.

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BREAKING: Charlie Kirk's family has filed multiple notices of claim against the state of Utah, Utah Valley University, and other officials, alleging that a number of security failures directly led to the conservative activist's assassination one year ago.

The Kirk's family… pic.twitter.com/bffZzHZqy2

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 16, 2026

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