College Campus Where Charlie Kirk Was Shot Lacked Key Public Safety

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. Charlie Kirk speaks before he is shot during Turning Point’s visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept.

10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP) By Jack BrookAssociated Press/Report for America OREM, Utah — 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... 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. | READ NEXT: Protecting high-profile figures: A police plan for preventing targeted attacks Utah Valley University, 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... The 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.

“Absolutely there were security failures; it left him exposed,” said Greg Shaffer, who oversaw Kirk’s security from 2015 to 2022. “It was egregious enough that someone was able to take advantage and kill him.” by JACK BROOK, Associated Press/Report for America OREM, Utah (AP) — 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,... 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. 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. 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. 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.

On September 10, 2025, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot at a public event on the campus of Utah Valley University. The suspect reportedly fired from a rooftop, striking him in the neck during an outdoor speech attended by thousands. For many parents, this event has stirred deep fears about what safety means in higher education today. Below are some of the main concerns parents are grappling with — and what they might do in response. Parents are realizing that many campus events — even ones with high-profile speakers or controversial topics — may not have adequate security. In Kirk’s case, there were no bag checks, limited barriers to entry, and little rooftop surveillance — conditions that left vulnerabilities.

The open nature of many college campuses poses a challenge when protecting students. Universities often feel caught between upholding free speech and ensuring security. Events like Kirk’s may attract protesters or even threats. Parents worry: will schools overcorrect and cancel events? Or will they underprepare, putting students at risk? Witnessing or being near violence is traumatic.

Students at UVU described chaos, fear, and confusion as they ran for safety. Beyond the immediate danger, the flood of social media videos and images can amplify anxiety for those on campus and beyond.

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