Utah Valley University, where right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while attending an event on September 10, exhibited several security lapses that are unfortunately common at large U.S. events, according to a review by the Associated Press.
Kirk was assassinated when a gunman fired at him from the rooftop of a nearby building. The suspect later evaded authorities and was only apprehended after being turned in by his family.
“Absolutely there were security failures; it left him exposed. It was egregious enough that someone was able to take advantage and kill him,” AP quoted Greg Shaffer, who oversaw Charlie Kirk’s security from 2015 to 2022, as saying.
Security Lapses at UVU
No drones to monitor rooftops: Despite clear weather on the day of the event, no drones were deployed to monitor rooftops. Security officers noted that rooftop sniper attacks had become a recognized threat, especially after a 2023 assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, where a person fired shots from a rooftop, injuring some and killing one bystander, though Trump survived.
Inadequate police presence: UVU’s campus hosts 48,000 students, with 16,000 high school students not attending classes on-site, according to UVU President Astrid Tuminez. The campus has just 23 officers, creating a ratio of one cop per 1,400 students—far below the average for public universities, which is around one officer per 500 students, according to a 2024 US Department of Justice study. During the event, only six campus officers were present alongside Kirk’s personal security, said campus police Chief Jeffrey Long.
Campus safety resources lag behind growth: UVU has grown dramatically from under 9,000 students in the 1990s to approximately 48,000 today. Former campus public safety leaders, speaking to AP on condition of anonymity, noted that safety resources have not kept pace with this growth. Val Peterson, who oversees the university’s public safety, reportedly rejected requests to hire additional officers, believing the campus was sufficiently secure. AP noted that Peterson had not responded to requests for comment.
Emergency response system shortcomings: When the shooting occurred, no fire marshal was present to help plan safety for a large event. Additionally, two of the university’s three emergency radio channels failed to meet state standards for signal strength in 2023, according to the AP report.
