Charlie Kirk’s family intends to sue Utah Valley University, the campus where the Turning Point USA founder was fatally shot in September 2025, for alleged security failures that led to his death.
Just over one year after his assassination, Kirk’s loved ones have filed a notice of intent to sue, a formal document created to maintain a statute of limitations so a lawsuit can later be filed. The notice alleged that “the UVU Parties created a foreseeable danger to Charlie” in a series of “stunning failures and reckless decisions,” according to paperwork obtained by Us on Wednesday, September 16.
“Those decisions ultimately rendered Mr. Kirk helpless to the rooftop shooter in an assassination that could have been avoided had the UVU Parties only taken reasonable steps to plan and oversee a safe event, steps outlined below that have been standard practice for other universities hosting controversial speakers,” the notice continued.
The document alleged that the university failed to conduct a “meaningful risk assessment” before approving the outdoor location, which served as the first stop on Turning Point USA’s nationwide tour of college campuses. The event also allegedly had a lack of security resources, with only six campus police officers.
The family claimed that Kirk’s death “could have been avoided” if UVU had consistently monitored surveillance footage in real time. (Video shown during a preliminary hearing for the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, showed an individual running across the roof of the Losee Center for Student Success to what an officer referred to as a “sniper’s pad.”)
Furthermore, the university allegedly ignored a tip passed along by Turning Point USA regarding the risk of access to rooftops.
“When a TPUSA official informed [campus police department chief Jeffrey Long] of the concern and asked, ‘If this is true, it would be nice to either have it controlled access or allow one of my guys to be there as well. If Possible.’ Chief Long responded by saying, ‘I got you covered,'” the notice read. “This led TPUSA to reasonably conclude that UVU had a plan to address the identified risk and other similar risks (most obviously the risk from other rooftops) without TPUSA involvement.”
The notice referenced the 2024 assassination attempt on President Donald Trump by a rooftop sniper, adding, “The risk of a rooftop shooter should have been especially top-of-mind given the attempted assassination of President Trump, Charlie Kirk’s close friend and political ally, by a rooftop shooter the previous year.”
Among the possible defendants listed in the intent to sue are Utah Valley University, the State of Utah, the Utah Valley University Police Department, Chief Long, former UVU president Astrid Tuminez and others. The prospective plaintiffs include the Kirk estate, Charlie’s wife, Erika Kirk, and their two kids.
“Charlie Kirk was violently and publicly assassinated while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University (UVU),” Brett Parkinson, counsel for the Kirk family, told Us in a statement on Wednesday. “His murder was entirely preventable and, in fact, would not have happened had the State of Utah and UVU followed through on their stated security promises, which included protecting the rooftops surrounding the quad where Charlie was speaking.”
The statement continued, “Those failures not only robbed Charlie Kirk of his life, but also robbed his family of their husband, father, son and brother, with impacts that will compound for the rest of their lives. Justice and accountability under the law are key tenets of the American judicial system. This claim preserves the right of Charlie Kirk’s family to pursue accountability for Charlie’s death.”
Robinson, 23, turned himself in two days after the shooting and was charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, violent offense committed in the presence of a child, two counts of obstruction of justice and two counts of tampering with a witness. He has pleaded not guilty.
Following a week of preliminary hearings in July, State District Judge Tony Graf determined that Robison’s case will proceed to trial. He faces the death penalty if convicted.
