Nobody Scanned Our Equipment Or Bags Security At Charlie Kirk S Utah

Witnesses say there were few security measures in place — but experts tell The Independent that it is ‘almost impossible’ to safeguard against long-distance shootings From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important... At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum.

And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. The fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, at an open-air event on a college campus with hundreds of people in attendance, has called into question whether security failures allowed a gunman to enter... 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.” Heavily armed policed are continuing to search for a suspect in the fatal shooting of influential conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a busy event at Utah Valley University. Authorities say the suspect fired a single shot from a nearby rooftop, hitting Kirk in the neck as he was speaking at the outdoor student event. The 31-year-old founded Turning Point USA, a group that seeks to spread conservative ideas on American campuses, when he was still a teenager.

President Donald Trump called Kirk a patriot and said his death was a "dark moment for America." In a video post, Trump said he was "filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk". On September 10, 2025, a tragic event unfolded at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, when conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a speaking engagement. The assassination, described by Utah Governor Spencer Cox as a “political assassination,” has sparked intense scrutiny over the security measures—or lack thereof—at the event. Witnesses reported that security at the UVU amphitheater was alarmingly lax, with no bag or identity checks, allowing anyone to enter the venue freely. They also noted a minimal security presence near the area where Kirk was speaking, raising questions about whether the tragedy could have been prevented.

This article reconstructs the event, drawing from witness accounts, official statements, and public reactions, while examining the broader implications of the security failures. Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative figure and close ally of President Donald Trump, was the keynote speaker at a Turning Point USA event billed as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” The outdoor event,... Kirk, known for his provocative style and advocacy for conservative values on college campuses, was about 20 minutes into a question-and-answer session when a single shot rang out at 12:20 p.m. local time. The bullet, fired from the roof of the nearby Losee Center, approximately 200 to 300 yards away, struck Kirk in the neck. He collapsed, blood pouring from the wound, and was pronounced dead at a local hospital hours later.

Witnesses described a scene of chaos and panic. Justin Hickens, who was standing about 20 yards from Kirk, told NBC News, “I saw a bunch of blood come out of Charlie. I saw his body kind of kick back and go limp, and everybody dropped to the ground.” Attendees scrambled for safety, some knocking over barricades and wading through a campus fountain to escape. Videos circulating on social media captured the moment of the shot, with screams erupting as Kirk slumped in his chair. Witness Isaac, who declined to provide his last name, described the scene as “surreal,” noting that he saw blood “shooting out” of Kirk’s neck as people “hit the floor,” fearing a mass shooting. Multiple witnesses expressed shock at the minimal security measures in place for an event featuring a high-profile figure like Kirk, known for attracting both supporters and protesters.

Tyler McGettigan, an attendee, told NBC News he was surprised that no one checked his ticket, which had a scannable QR code. “No one checked the barcode or the QR code. There was no checkpoint to get in. It was literally, anyone could walk in if they wanted,” he said. Other attendees, including Deseret News reporter Emma Pitts, confirmed that there were no metal detectors or bag checks at the entrance. Pitts noted, “Nobody scanned our equipment, nobody scanned our bags, there was no security like that.”

Jeb Jacobi, a student volunteer at the event, recalled seeing only about two security guards near the stage where Kirk was speaking, far fewer than expected for a crowd of thousands. Afton Miller, a 25-year-old UVU student and Turning Point USA member, echoed this sentiment, stating, “There didn’t seem to be a whole lot of security.” Another witness, Spencer Carpenter, told the Deseret News he... “The way I looked at it, anyone could bring a gun in there and nobody would have known,” he said. 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 arrived at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem as part of his “American Comeback Tour,” a campus speaking series designed to court controversy. The 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder was no stranger to confrontation; his events routinely drew vociferous protests and angry petitions. In fact, at UVU, a petition to bar his appearance had garnered nearly a thousand signatures beforehand.

Kirk’s inflammatory rhetoric — denouncing everyone from Martin Luther King Jr. to Taylor Swift — made him a lightning rod. He also wasn’t a stranger to danger: by his own admission and that of his organization, Kirk had been the target of countless threats. Still, he insisted on pressing forward. “Charlie was no stranger to threats… he always prioritized reaching as many young Americans as possible over his own personal safety,” Turning Point posted after his death. That mindset set the stage for what would be a fatal gamble in a state largely considered friendly territory.

UVU is an open campus in a deep red state, and initial security assessments turned up “no credible threats” for the event. University administrators and Kirk’s team alike seemed to expect a rowdy debate at most — not the assassination… The fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, at an open-air event on a college campus with hundreds of people in attendance, has called into question whether security failures allowed a gunman to enter... There did not appear to be any bag checks or security checkpoints for Wednesday’s event on the sprawling Utah Valley University campus, which covers more than 500 acres in Orem, Utah. Six police officers were covering the outdoor area, where the Turning Point USA event was taking place, alongside Kirk’s private security detail. The university’s police chief told reporters Wednesday that there were also “some plainclothes police officers” among roughly 3,000 people in the crowd.

“We train for these things, and you think you have things covered, and these things, unfortunately, they happen,” Chief Jeff Long said. “You try to get your bases covered, and unfortunately, … we didn’t. Because of that, we had this tragic incident.” At a press conference Thursday morning, Utah Department of Public Safety commissioner Beau Mason said he could not speak to the event’s security, and stressed that his office and federal law enforcement were not... Security experts say the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah has exposed the challenges of protecting public figures, especially at large outdoor events. FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum spoke with a mother and her daughter, who witnessed the chaos following the shooting.

PHOENIX - The shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus has exposed possible security gaps for political events. The shooting happened during an event that was part of Kirk's "American Comeback Tour." Graphic video posted to social media shows Kirk on stage, sitting in a chair and talking into a microphone when... People started screaming and running away following the shooting. Officials say the shooter fired the lone gunshot from the top of a building that is located less than 200 yards away from where Kirk was sitting with his own security around him. "All I could see is him just going limp. Like, I saw the life leave him in that instant, and I knew he was gone," said Alicia Smith.

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