Family of Charlie Kirk Files Wrongful Death Notice Over Utah University Security Failures
The family of Charlie Kirk has issued a wrongful death notice against Utah officials, citing security lapses that led to the activist's 2025 assassination.
POLICY WIRE — Orem, Utah — The family of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has formally accused Utah officials of negligence, alleging that a series of reckless decisions by university leadership directly facilitated his assassination on campus.
Legal representatives for the family filed a wrongful death notice on Wednesday, a mandatory precursor to a potential lawsuit. The document asserts that Kirk was left vulnerable to a sniper who fired from a distance of over 400 feet during a September 10, 2025, event at Utah Valley University.
Kirk, 31, was addressing a crowd of approximately 3,000 people in an outdoor courtyard when he was killed. Attorneys argue that the university failed to implement standard safety protocols, such as bag checks, metal detectors, or the use of drones to monitor surrounding rooftops.
D. Loren Washburn, an attorney for the Kirk family, noted that the threat of a rooftop shooter should have been a primary concern given the previous year’s assassination attempt on President Trump, a close political ally of Kirk. The notice names the university, former president Astrid Tuminez, campus police chief Jeffrey Long, and the state of Utah as parties involved.
The filing highlights additional security failures, including inadequate risk assessments and a lack of immediate medical support. Because no first responders were staged at the scene, Kirk had to be transported to a hospital in a private vehicle rather than an ambulance.
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Chief Jeffrey Long previously stated that six officers were assigned to the event to coordinate with Kirk’s eight-person private security detail. The university has since announced plans to expand its police force in response to the tragedy.
The accused gunman, Tyler Robinson, surrendered to authorities one day after the shooting. Prosecutors allege that Robinson targeted Kirk due to his political views and is currently facing charges of aggravated murder, which could carry the death penalty.
Evidence presented during a July preliminary hearing included surveillance footage, DNA evidence from a rifle recovered at the scene, and a note in which Robinson claimed he had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and took it. A judge ordered the case to proceed to trial on September 1, though a start date remains pending.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has publicly stated that while she forgives Robinson, she remains committed to seeking justice through the legal system. The family has not yet specified the damages they intend to pursue in their potential lawsuit.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
