Charlie Kirk’s family blamed Utah officials for failing to prevent the conservative political activist’s fatal shooting at a state university, according to a wrongful death notice announced on Wednesday that presages a possible lawsuit.
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that → blame → lawsuit
Attorneys for the family said Kirk’s death resulted from a string of “reckless decisions” by officials at Utah Valley University (UVU) that left him exposed to a rooftop sniper, who fired a fatal shot from more than 400 feet (122 meters) away on 10 September 2025.
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who → say → September
UVU has faced harsh criticism for a lack of key safety measures on the day of the shooting.
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UVU → face → shooting
Kirk, 31, had been debating students in an outdoor courtyard surrounded by tall buildings and with several thousand people in attendance.
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Kirk → debate → attendance
An Associated Press review following the shooting showed the campus in Orem did not use several public safety practices that have become standard safeguards at events around the country.
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that → follow → country
Campus police staffing was far below recommended levels for a school of that size.
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staffing → recommend → size
They also did not fly a drone to monitor rooftops or coordinate with local law enforcement to secure the event attended by about 3,000 people.
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They → fly → people
In the notice to state and university officials, Kirk family attorney D Loren Washburn wrote that “the risk of a rooftop shooter should have been especially top-of-mind” given a rooftop shooter’s attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania in July 2024 while he successfully ran for a second presidency.
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he → write → presidency
Washburn called Trump a “close friend and political ally” of Kirk.
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Washburn → call → Kirk
The document – dated 9 September, a day before the one-year anniversary of Kirk’s death – is a required step under state law before his family can file a formal claim or lawsuit.
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family → date → claim
It names the university and its then-president, Astrid Tuminez; the campus police department and its chief, Jeffrey Long; and the state of Utah.
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It → name → Utah
A spokesperson for UVU said the university was aware of the notice and would address it “consistent with our established processes.
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university → say → processes
”
“Our focus remains on supporting our campus community,” UVU spokesperson Sharon Turner said in a statement.
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Turner → remain → statement
The Utah attorney general’s office said it does not comment on potential litigation.
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it → say → litigation
Attorneys for Kirk’s family alleged additional lapses by officials, including not conducting an adequate risk assessment before approving the event, failing to establish a secure perimeter and having no first responders immediately available, resulting in Kirk being taken to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle rather than an ambulance after he was shot.
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he → allege → vehicle
“Tragically, the UVU parties took none of these safety measures – steps only they had the authority to take – resulting in a situation that rendered Mr Kirk helpless before his assassin,” Washburn wrote.
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Washburn → take → assassin
Long said after the shooting that six of his officers staffed the event and coordinated with Kirk’s eight-person private security team.
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six → say → team
The school said it was expanding its police force after the shooting.
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it → say → shooting
Utah resident Tyler Robinson turned himself in a day after Kirk’s killing and has been charged with aggravated murder, making him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
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him → turn → penalty
Prosecutors say Robinson told his romantic partner that he “had enough of his [Kirk’s] hatred”.
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he → say → hatred
A judge on 1 September ordered the case against Robinson to proceed toward trial.
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case → order → trial
A date had not yet been set as of Wednesday.
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date → set → Wednesday
Prosecutors during a preliminary hearing in July presented what they characterized as overwhelming evidence against Robinson.
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they → present → Robinson
That includes surveillance video of Robinson on the campus, DNA tests linking him to a rifle found near the assassination site, and a handwritten note he allegedly left for his romantic partner that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it.”
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I → include → it
Kirk’s parents, Robert and Kathryn Kirk, and widow, Erika Kirk, attended the hearings.
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parents → attend → hearings
State law allows heirs or personal representatives of people who die to file lawsuits seeking damages if the death was caused by a wrongful act or negligence.
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death → allow → act
The notice from Kirk’s family did not specify what damages they may seek.
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they → specify → damages
The Aporia
