Charlie Kirk S Killing Raises The Stakes For Campus Security Npr

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, left, speaks with Utah Valley University Chief of Police Jeff Long, right, at a press conference on the campus after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event Wednesday. Hannah Schoenbaum/AP hide caption 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.

Charlie Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP) OREM, Utah (AP) — Less than two weeks before Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah, a sheriff’s department in central California conducted three days of reconnaissance to prepare for a speech by the conservative firebrand... Officials researched potential escape routes and identified local activists opposed to Kirk. On the day of the indoor event in Visalia, which drew 2,000 people, some 60 law enforcement officials monitored Kirk’s movements to and from the church, even deploying a drone to secure surrounding rooftops,...

Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, walks through the crowd at a pro Trump rally outside the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office where elections officials continue to count ballots, Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) “The very nature of Charlie Kirk coming in requires you take special attention to the nuances of what could possibly happen,” Boudreaux said. “He’s a high profile name and personality. Not only do we have to provide for the safety of people attending, we have to provide for the safety of him.”

Less than two weeks before Charlie Kirk's assassination in Utah, a sheriff's department in central California conducted three days of reconnaissance to prepare for a speech by the conservative firebrand at a local church... Officials researched potential escape routes and identified local activists opposed to Kirk. On the day of the indoor event in Visalia, which drew 2,000 people, some 60 law enforcement officials monitored Kirk's movements to and from the church, even deploying a drone to secure surrounding rooftops,... “The very nature of Charlie Kirk coming in requires you take special attention to the nuances of what could possibly happen,” Boudreaux said. “He’s a high profile name and personality. Not only do we have to provide for the safety of people attending, we have to provide for the safety of him."

By contrast, Kirk's outdoor event at Utah Valley University last week was out in the open, but with far less security. Six campus police officers — about a quarter of the force — worked the event, which drew 3,000 people, Jeff Long, the campus police chief, said last week. The department hasn’t said whether they inspected nearby rooftops; the suspect shot and killed Kirk from atop a building hundreds of feet away. As he crisscrossed the country to spread his conservative ideals at college campuses, Kirk preferred to be as close to students as possible, allowing him to strike up conversations with passersby. His level of protection varied greatly — campus police often took the lead on overall security, while Kirk's private detail focused on up-close protection. Many political groups and speakers are hitting pause as they reassess how to make appearances at universities and elsewhere following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

William Donahue, former head of College Republicans of America, believes that debates like the outdoor event at Utah Valley University on Sept. where Kirk was killed on Sept. 10, will have to be set aside for now. “The tabling, ‘change my mind’ events are going to have to stop until this political climate settles down,” he said, referring to Kirk’s style of setting up a table at a campus and welcoming... “I have a responsibility to ensure our students are safe,” Donahue said. “I can’t put them in danger.”

Five student members of the College Republicans of America were volunteers at Kirk’s event on Sept. 10. Donahue noted that the group does not have enough funding to provide its own increased security measures, and said it will have to rely on institutions to take on a greater role. For Wednesday’s midday event at Utah Valley University, conservative activist Charlie Kirk followed a formula he had used many times on college campuses. Students flowed into a courtyard for a large outdoor gathering featuring a wide-ranging, sometimes raucous political debate, with security arrangements coordinated in advance between Kirk’s team and campus police. In the wake of the deadly Charlie Kirk attack, some universities and colleges are rethinking security.

A security expert says it’s important to study the security gaps here. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was well-known, garnering support and controversy for his traditional Christian views on gender, gay rights, and race. Still, the 31-year-old didn’t have the kind of title that criminologist Alex Del Carmen says would have forced campus security into months of preparation. “I will tell you that college campus events are difficult to secure, especially when you don't have people that have a political grade that bring their own security,” said Del Carmen. But amid a wave of political attacks, he said it’s something institutions will have to reconsider. Updated September 14, 2025 at 10:08 AM ET

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. The assassination of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative political activist and associate of President Donald Trump, sent shockwaves through the United States. The incident occurred on the campus of a university in Orem, Utah, where Kirk was speaking. According to preliminary reports, the killer fired a bullet from the roof of one of the buildings on campus, striking Kirk in the chest.

The suspect was quickly arrested but was released shortly after interrogation, leaving the real perpetrator at large. FBI Director Cash Patel, in a statement, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing but hinted that the true mastermind behind the assassination may remain hidden, much like the shadowy figures who allegedly orchestrated the... For years, Charlie Kirk’s appearances at college campuses were major events — drawing thousands of students and attracting protesters, often staged to maximize his interaction with the crowds of young conservatives he inspired. And each event came with unique security risks, which campuses around the country handled case by case, according to interviews with Kirk’s former security chief and organizers at several colleges who spoke to NBC... Kirk's assassination Wednesday is raising questions about whether more should have been done at Utah Valley University, in Orem, where roughly 3,000 people came to hear the conservative activist speak. People said they were able to walk in without passing any sort of security checkpoint, even though scannable tickets were required.

Just 20 minutes after the event's start time, as Kirk addressed the crowd from under a tent, a single bullet fired from a rooftop about 200 yards away hit Kirk; blood poured from his... President Donald Trump announced his death hours later.

People Also Search

• Charlie Kirk's killing raises the stakes for campus security - NPR
• Utah campus where Charlie Kirk was shot provided less security than ...
• Charlie Kirk assassination raises questions about campus security
• Charlie Kirk assassination raises questions about event security on ...
• College campus security concerns rise after fatal Charlie Kirk shooting ...
• Charlie Kirk shooting sparks campus security debate - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort ...
• Charlie Kirk's killing raises the stakes for campus security
• Regulatory Gaps in Campus Security Highlighted by Charlie Kirk's ...
• Charlie Kirk's killing raises the stakes for campus security : NPR
• How universities handled security for Charlie Kirk - NBC News