Family of Charlie Kirk alleges security failures led to his assassination

The family of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has initiated the first legal steps toward a potential wrongful death lawsuit against Utah officials and Utah Valley University. The legal notice, filed following Kirk’s death on September 10, 2025, alleges that a series of reckless security decisions at a campus event in Orem left the 31-year-old vulnerable to a fatal sniper attack. Kirk was shot from a rooftop located more than 400 feet away while debating students in an outdoor courtyard before an audience of approximately 3,000 people.

Attorneys representing the family contend that the university failed to implement standard security measures necessary for a large public gathering. Specifically, the notice highlights concerns regarding perimeter security, surveillance, and the lack of screening protocols. According to the family’s claims, the event lacked metal detectors and bag checks, and officials failed to utilize drones to monitor surrounding rooftops. The family argues that the threat of a rooftop shooter should have been a primary concern, citing the 2024 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump as a relevant precedent for security planning.

The university’s security arrangements for the event have become a central point of contention. While the family asserts that campus police staffing was significantly below recommended levels, the university’s former police chief, Jeffrey Long, stated that six campus officers were assigned to the event. Long also noted that these officers coordinated with an eight-person private security team hired by Kirk.

Beyond staffing levels, the family’s notice points to broader failures in emergency medical response and the management of access to campus buildings. The university has confirmed receipt of the notice of claim but has not accepted the allegations presented by the family. In response to the filing, university representatives stated that they intend to address the matter through established legal processes.