Charlie Kirk assassination: Utah Valley University identifies security shortcomings around Turning Point USA event in independent review

An independent review commissioned by the Utah Valley University (UVU) has found no evidence that university employees acted in bad faith before or after the assassination of Charlie Kirk last year. The review, however, has identified security shortcomings in its report. The 150-page report, released on Friday (September 25), stated that the university and event organizers failed to adequately prepare for a high-profile appearance with higher security risks.

"It is the opinion of the Project Team, based on our review of all available information, that at no time during the events leading up to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, or in its aftermath, did any employee or agent of UVU act in bad faith or in willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others," the review said.

What did the review team find?

The review found that there were not enough police officers assigned to the event. It also reported that no one was tasked with monitoring campus security cameras in real time during the event, noting that footage was reviewed only after the shooting as part of the probe.

The review team also criticized the university for allowing Kirk's organization Turning Point USA to have significant influence over security-related decisions. The report also identified communication breakdowns after the shooting.

Who conducted the review?

The review was carried out by a panel of independent experts from Robert L. Davis LLC, Doherty Advisory LLC, The Lake Forest Group, and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP.

The team looked into events leading up to, during, and immediately after the fatal shooting. The findings are based on around 70 interviews conducted by outside law enforcement and legal experts hired by the university.

Kirk family issues statement

In response to the findings, a counsel for the Kirk family released a statement, saying: "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."

It added: "UVU hosted this event, and in doing so, assumed responsibility for the safety of all in attendance, including Charlie. The buck stopped with UVU leadership and law enforcement. Justice for Charlie and his family requires true accountability for UVU’s fatal shortcomings that day."

This comes after Kirk's wife Erika last week filed an intent to sue the university over the security arrangements at the event. Charlie Kirk, a rightwing political activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead while speaking at UVU in Orem on September 10, 2025.