Charlie Kirk’s family has filed a legal notice against Utah Valley University, alleging officials failed to address rooftop security concerns before his death.
The family of Charlie Kirk has taken the first legal step toward a potential lawsuit against Utah Valley University, alleging that security failures at the campus contributed to the conservative activist’s fatal shooting.
A notice of claim filed on behalf of Kirk’s family accuses Utah Valley University, its police department and other Utah officials of failing to adequately protect Kirk during his September 2025 appearance at the school.
At the center of the filing is an alleged text exchange involving UVU Police Chief Jeffrey Long and a representative of Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk co-founded.
According to the legal filing, concerns were raised before the event about unsecured rooftops overlooking the area where Kirk was scheduled to speak. Long allegedly responded with the reassurance, “I got you covered.”
Family points to rooftop warning
The filing argues that the university was aware of potential vulnerabilities surrounding the event but failed to take sufficient steps to secure elevated positions.
Kirk was speaking at an outdoor event on the UVU campus on Sept. 10, 2025, when authorities say a gunman fired from a rooftop across the area.
The family alleges that the university did not adequately secure the rooftop, despite the earlier warning. Attorneys also point to other alleged shortcomings, including limited police staffing, inadequate surveillance, the absence of a secure perimeter and a lack of screening measures.
The event reportedly drew approximately 3,000 people. Six campus police officers were assigned to the gathering, according to reporting on the legal filing. UVU has since moved to expand its police force.
What the legal filing means
The notice of claim is not itself a lawsuit or a finding of legal liability. It is a procedural step required before certain claims against government entities in Utah can proceed.
Kirk’s family is seeking to preserve its ability to pursue a wrongful-death case against the university, the state and individuals named in the filing.
UVU has said it will address the matter through its established procedures, while the Utah Attorney General’s Office has not commented on the potential litigation.
The allegations remain unproven and could be challenged in court.
Criminal case remains separate
The family’s potential civil case is separate from the criminal prosecution of Tyler Robinson, who is charged in connection with Kirk’s killing and has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege Robinson fired the fatal shot from a rooftop at the university. The criminal proceedings will determine Robinson’s responsibility for the killing, while the proposed civil action would focus on whether university or government officials failed to meet their legal obligations regarding event security.
For Kirk’s family, however, the alleged exchange involving the police chief has become a key element of its argument that security concerns were raised before the shooting but were not adequately addressed.
As the legal process develops, the contents of the notice could place UVU’s event-planning decisions, security protocols and response to warnings under closer scrutiny.
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