Charlie Kirk Assassination At Utah Valley University Raises Security

Fox News correspondent Matt Finn has the latest on the search for a motive in the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on 'Special Report.' The assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University (UVU) last Wednesday raised questions about whether a potential lack of security protocols could be to blame for the conservative activist’s death. "There were not a lot of cops there. I’ve seen more cops at UVU for sporting events than right now," a witness identified only as Sam, a local high school student, told KUTV right after the shooting on Wednesday. Sam also wondered why there weren’t stricter security measures, such as bag checks before the event. "They had cops above on the walkways who were stopping — what I assume — people from throwing stuff down towards him.

So, I wonder why there wasn’t any level of security taken to stop people around, like, in front of him or anything like that," he added. Kirk often appeared at venues where he faced strong criticism, going toe-to-toe with his harshest opponents on campuses and venues across the country. Law enforcement tapes off an area after Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot at Utah Valley University, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP, File) The Utah college where conservative leader Charlie Kirk was assassinated lacked several key public safety measures and practices that have become standard safeguards for security at events around the country, an Associated Press review...

Utah Valley University’s outdoor courtyard, where Kirk showed up on Sept. 10 to debate students, was surrounded by several tall buildings, leaving Kirk vulnerable. That was made all the more potent because campus police didn’t fly a drone to monitor rooftops or coordinate with local law enforcement to secure the event. It deployed only six officers from a force that was already small for a campus its size. There were no bag checks or metal detectors. A sniper took position on a nearby roof and killed Kirk with a single shot about 20 minutes after the event began, escaping notice from campus police.

Security at Utah Valley University will come into sharper focus in the coming months as lawmakers and the public seek answers about what could have been done differently. The fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus Wednesday raises questions about what security measures were in place to protect him and students attending the event. UVU police Chief Jeff Long briefly addressed that question at a news conference hours after the tragedy. “We’re devastated by what happened today. This is a police chief’s nightmare,” he said. Kirk spoke sitting under a pop-up tent at the bottom of a tiered outdoor amphitheater in the center of campus surrounded by buildings.

Long said six police officers were working the event along with plain-clothes officers among the crowd he estimated to be about 3,000 people. He didn’t specify the number of undercover officers. The UVU police force, he said, is “small” and covers a large campus with 40,000 students. Updated September 30, 2025 at 3:29 PM MDT Charlie Kirk's assassination at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday has increased concerns about security and free speech on college campuses, and university police chiefs are thinking through what the shooting... The event drew about 3,000 people to an amphitheater-shaped space on campus, and authorities believe the fatal shot was fired from a rooftop overlooking the area.

Six university police officers were assigned to the event, and Kirk had his own security detail. Some security experts told NPR the number of officers at the UVU event was not enough for an event of that size. And some attendees said the security presence felt minimal, noting that there were no bag checks as people entered. NPR reached out to the university and its police force, as well as the Utah Department of Public Safety, but did not receive a response. "Any time you have this type of violence, it's a game-changer," says Richard Beary, who served for more than a decade as police chief at the University of Central Florida. He says there's no formula for staffing or security measures at events featuring controversial speakers.

Instead, he says decisions depend on the level of risk. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah university where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated is expanding its police force and adding security managers after the school received harsh criticism for its lack of... Utah Valley University is in the process of hiring eight additional campus police officers and two new safety managers who will help coordinate security for future events on campus, spokesperson Ellen Treanor said Wednesday. Kirk was fatally shot from a campus rooftop on Sept. 10 while debating students in an outdoor courtyard surrounded by several tall buildings. An Associated Press review found that the Orem campus did not implement several public safety practices that have become standard safeguards for security at events around the country.

Police staffing also fell far below recommended margins for a school of its size. Campus police did not fly a drone to monitor rooftops or coordinate with local law enforcement to secure the event attended by about 3,000 people. There were no bag checks or metal detectors, and several students who bought tickets told the AP they were never checked. Chief Jeffrey Long said just after the shooting that only six officers had staffed the event. Kirk also had an eight-person private security detail present. Police and private security forces have come under mounting scrutiny in the aftermath of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Questions are being raised over how the attack was able to occur at a ticketed, ostensibly secured event, with multiple witnesses noting that no checkpoints, bag checks, or barcode scans were enforced and that... Kirk, 31, the founder of the right-leaning youth organization Turning Point USA and a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, was delivering a speech under a tent to a large crowd on campus at... He collapsed, was rushed to a local hospital and later pronounced dead. Newsweek has contacted Utah Valley University police department and the FBI for comment via email. The fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk underscores the challenges of securing public events featuring high-profile or polarizing figures. Even ticketed gatherings with private security can remain vulnerable if basic precautions—such as access control, bag checks, and perimeter monitoring—are not rigorously enforced.

The incident raises broader questions about how law enforcement and private security coordinate to protect speakers, and highlights the ongoing risks of political violence in highly charged environments. At TOI World Desk, our dedicated team of seasoned journalists and passionate writers tirelessly sifts through the vast tapestry of global events to bring you the latest news and diverse perspectives round the clock. With an unwavering commitment to accuracy, depth, and timeliness, we strive to keep you informed about the ever-evolving world, delivering a nuanced understanding of international affairs to our readers. Join us on a journey across continents as we unravel the stories that shape our interconnected world.Read More In pics: Vijay Sethupathi’s fierce avatar in Bigg Boss Tamil 9 promo 10 small dog breeds perfect for apartment living: Family-friendly and easy to care for

Disha Parmar approved top 10 stylish looks Navratri 2025: Shraddha Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and other divas' inspired pink ethnic looks for day 9 Charlie Kirk's assassination at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday has increased concerns about security and free speech on college campuses, and university police chiefs are thinking through what the shooting... The event drew about 3,000 people to an amphitheater-shaped space on campus, and authorities believe the fatal shot was fired from a rooftop overlooking the area. Six university police officers were assigned to the event, and Kirk had his own security detail. Still, some attendees said the security presence felt minimal, noting that there were no bag checks as people entered.

"Any time you have this type of violence, it's a game changer," says Richard Beary, who served for more than a decade as police chief at the University of Central Florida. He says there's no formula for staffing or security measures at events featuring controversial speakers. Instead, he says decisions depend on the level of risk. "You're constantly trying to evaluate the security need versus the freedom on campus. It's a constant balancing act that police chiefs do on a daily basis. And sometimes people don't like it," he says.

He recalls that after the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, his department overhauled security protocols for large gatherings and football games. That tension between safety and free expression has long concerned groups such as the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). Robert Shibley, FIRE's special counsel for campus advocacy, says violence against speakers strikes at the heart of democratic debate. "Whether it's Charlie Kirk or Salman Rushdie ... these folks who are brave enough to come out and talk about their own controversial views in front of large numbers of people, that's a fundamental part of how our democracy is supposed to... "And there's nowhere that's more important than on college campuses."

People Also Search

• Charlie Kirk assassination at Utah Valley University raises security ...
• Security gaps at Utah college where Charlie Kirk was assassinated | AP News
• Were security measures in place where Charlie Kirk was killed ...
• Charlie Kirk's killing raises the stakes for campus security | Utah ...
• Utah Valley University expanding police force after Charlie Kirk ...
• Security fears surge after Charlie Kirk's Utah assassination
• 'Nobody scanned our equipment or bags': Security at Charlie Kirk's Utah ...
• Police, Security Under Scrutiny Over Charlie Kirk Assassination
• Charlie Kirk assassination: From understaffed security to weak ...
• Charlie Kirk's killing raises the stakes for campus security