An independent review commissioned by Utah Valley University says Turning Point USA insisted Charlie Kirk’s September 10, 2025, event be held outdoors, despite staff recommending a more secure venue weeks earlier. Kirk was fatally shot at the campus event.
The review said a planned face-to-face briefing and walkthrough between UVU police chief Jeff Long and Turning Point USA’s security team did not take place. Turning Point USA also did not provide an attendance estimate, despite saying it would handle ticketing. The report said UVU deferred key security decisions to the group, making the site harder to control and limiting reliable crowd information; it recommended the university retain authority over venue, ticketing and access. It found no UVU employee or agent acted in bad faith or with willful and wanton disregard for others’ safety.
Kirk family attorney Brett Parkinson said UVU was responsible for attendees’ safety and called for accountability. The family plans to sue; a September 16 legal notice alleged the outdoor site was surrounded by tall buildings and elevated observation platforms. UVU President Jon Anderson said the university would examine the findings and act on the recommendations. Tyler Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder in connection with Kirk’s killing, pleaded not guilty and had no trial date set as of Friday.
