The family of conservative podcaster and influencer Charlie Kirk has accused Utah Valley University and other officials of failing to protect him before he was fatally shot on the campus in September 2025. The allegations were contained in a wrongful death notice filed on the first anniversary of the shooting, a required step before a formal claim or lawsuit under Utah law.
According to the notice, Kirk was debating students in an outdoor courtyard surrounded by tall buildings and other elevated locations. The family said the setting effectively placed him in a “fishbowl” and argued that officials should have considered the risk of a rooftop attacker, particularly after the attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump the previous year.
An Associated Press review cited in the source material found that the campus did not use several security measures that have become common at large public events. About 3,000 people attended, while campus police staffing was reportedly below recommended levels. The review also said officials did not use a drone to monitor rooftops or coordinate with local law enforcement to secure the gathering.
The family further alleged that there were no bag checks, metal detectors or immediately available first responders. It said those shortcomings contributed to Kirk being taken to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle rather than an ambulance. The notice names the university, its former president Astrid Tuminez, the campus police department and its chief Jeffrey Long, as well as the state of Utah.
Utah Valley University said it was aware of the notice and would respond through its established processes. The Utah attorney general’s office declined to comment on potential litigation.
Tyler Robinson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated murder and allegedly endangering others at the event. Prosecutors have been permitted to seek the death penalty, and a judge has ruled that Robinson should face trial, although no trial date was provided. His next hearing is scheduled for October 23.