On September 10, 2025, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed by a gunman while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. A subsequent independent review by the Lake Forest Group revealed significant security lapses and a failure to follow university protocols prior to the attack.
Six officers for thousands: The staffing gap at the Sept. 10 event
The security presence at Utah Valley University was drastically insufficient for the scale of the gathering.. According to the report, the original plan called for only three university law enforcement officers to secure an event attended by several thousand people. While the police chief eventually increased that number to six upon seeing the crowd size, the Lake Forest Group found that the university lacked a comprehensive written Security Assessment or Event Action Plan.
This absence of formal planning meant that critical safety measures were ignored. The review highlights that Utah Valley University failed to conduct a line-of-sight assessment or a structured walk-through with security stakeholders, despite the event's location in a courtyard surrounded by elevated vantage points and pedestrian routes.
How TPUSA's ticketing and venue choice bypassed UVU oversight
A significant portion of the security failure stemmed from the university deferring critical logistics to Turning Point USA (TPUSA). As the report says,university officials initially suggested alternative locations due to concerns about controlling the outdoor courtyard, but TPUSA representatives insisted on the space because of the organization's familiarity with the venue.
Further complicating the safety environment, Turning Point USA utilized its own ticketing process rather than the system provided by Utah Valley University. This decision left school officials blind to the exact number of attendees, making it impossible to accurately scale law enforcement staffing or crowd control measures before the assassination occurred.
The Sorensen Center rooftop vs. the Hall of Flags walkway
A stark contradiction has emerged between the university's findings and the legal claims made by the Kirk family. The Lake Forest Group's review focuses on the Hall of Flags walkway, noting that UVU Police Chief Jeffrey Long texted TPUSA security supervisor Dan Flood to say, "We got you covered," regarding that specific area.
However, the notice of claim filed by the family of Charlie Kirk identifies the Sorensen Center rooftop as the primary area of concern. the family's legal team, led by attorney Brett Parkinson, alleges that Utah Valley University was aware of the rooftop risk before the shooting and failed to act, a claim that directly conflicts with the university's focus on the pedestrian walkway.
The vulnerability of 'American Comeback Tour' stops on open campuses
The assassination occurred during the American Comeback Tour, highlighting the extreme difficulty of securing high-profile, controversial figures in open academic environments. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that the accused assassin, Tyler Robinson, was tracked across the Utah Valley University campus via surveillance video before firing the fatal shot from a rooftop.
This event echoes a growing tension across American campuses where the desire for open discourse clashes with the reeality of targeted political violence. The failure to secure elevated positions at Utah Valley University serves as a cautionary example for other institutions hosting speakers who attract both large crowds and intense protest activity.
Why the Lake Forest Group excluded TPUSA from its review
One of the most glaring omissions in the independent review is the lack of participation from the victim's own team. The report explicitly notes that Turning Point USA and Charlie Kirk's private security team did not participate in the review process, nor did they meet in person with university police prior to the event.
This leaves several critical questions unanswered: Did TPUSA's private security believe the university had the perimeter secured, or did they assume their own measures were sufficient? Without the perspective of the TPUSA security detail, the full picture of the communication breakdown between Chief Jeffrey Long and Dan Flood remains incomplete.
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