The Utah college where conservative leader Charlie Kirk was assassinated lacked several key public safety measures and practices that have become standard safeguards for security at events across the country, an Associated Press review has found.
Utah Valley University's outdoor courtyard, where Kirk showed up on Sept. 10 to debate students, was surrounded by several tall buildings, leaving him vulnerable. That vulnerability was heightened due to the campus police not utilizing drone surveillance or coordinating with local law enforcement to ensure safety during the event. They deployed only six officers, a number deemed inadequate for an institution of its size, with no bag checks or metal detectors in place.
A sniper positioned on a nearby roof shot Kirk with a single bullet roughly 20 minutes into the event, without detection by campus police.
As discussions regarding security at Utah Valley University intensify in the wake of the assassination, lawmakers and the public are keen to understand what measures could have been implemented differently to prevent such a tragedy. 'Absolutely there were security failures; it left him exposed,' stated Greg Shaffer, who managed Kirk's security prior to the incident.
The university's president, Astrid Tuminez, remarked on the tragic nature of the event but refrained from providing specific details regarding failures in security. 'Somebody was killed, and that’s a tragedy,' she responded when asked directly about security failures during the event.
No Drones Monitoring Rooftops
On the day of the shooting, weather conditions were clear and conducive for drone surveillance which could have monitored surrounding rooftops, including where the fatal shot originated. Despite known risks of rooftop sniper attacks from prior incidents, no drones were employed for surveillance. Security experts emphasized the necessity of drones and video surveillance to assess threats effectively at outdoor events.
Furthermore, the university's campus police force, with just 23 officers overseeing approximately 48,000 students, faced criticism for their inadequate response capacity during large-scale events. Additional context reveals that many universities with similar or larger student bodies maintain a significantly higher officer-to-student ratio.
Per a 2024 UVU report, UVU was identified to have one officer per 1,400 students, in contrast to the national average of one officer per 500 students at public universities. This raises significant concerns about the university's ability to ensure safety during high-attendance gatherings.
Resource Allocation and Emergency Response
The UVU campus had numerous surveillance cameras installed, but concerns were raised about whether they were actively monitored during the event. Critical emergency response systems were also reportedly operating below state standards at the time of the shooting, creating gaps in communication that could hinder public safety coordination during emergencies.
Despite a history of discussions surrounding the inadequacies in safety protocols, steps taken by the university have been deemed insufficient relative to its growth and the anticipated security risks associated with larger crowds. Former employees have voiced concerns about neglecting the potential for violence, evidenced by previous warnings about the campus layout being conducive to an active shooter scenario.
In the aftermath, discussions have emerged regarding the need for security assessments and enhancements at Utah Valley University to prevent future tragedies. As the investigation continues, the critical evaluation of existing security protocols becomes more pressing in response to heightened community concern.
