Family of Slain Turning Point USA Founder Plans Lawsuit
The relatives of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, are indicating that they will sue Utah Valley University (UVU) along with its police department and several others. This comes in light of what they describe as “a series of stunning failures and reckless decisions” that led to his assassination last year.
They have filed a Notice of Claim against the State of Utah, UVU, the university’s police department, Chief Jeffrey Long, and Astrid Tuminez, who was the university’s president at that time. There may be additional parties involved as well.
Concerns about accessible rooftops on campus were reportedly ignored, even after multiple warnings. Turning Point USA highlighted this issue in a statement, mentioning a communication between their team and Chief Long about potential safety risks due to nearby roof access where Kirk was scheduled to speak.
In their messages, a TPUSA staff member noted, “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’s response was, “I got you covered,” as documented in the filing.
The family’s claims assert that the risk of a rooftop shooter should have been a top priority, especially considering the previous year’s attempt on President Trump’s life by a shooter in a similar position.
The documentation emphasizes that UVU had the authority to restrict access to certain areas of campus to create a safer environment. They argue that the university could have even moved the event to a different location entirely.
They stated, “Through a series of stunning failures and reckless decisions, the UVU Parties created a foreseeable danger to Charlie. Those decisions ultimately left Mr. Kirk vulnerable to the rooftop shooter in an assassination that could have been avoided had the UVU Parties only taken reasonable steps to ensure a safe event.”
The Notice of Claim also highlighted that Kirk was a prominent public figure and the founder of the largest conservative youth organization in the U.S. His significant social media presence and rising political influence came with notable risks.
Additionally, the filing pointed out that the university didn’t grasp the gravity of Kirk’s visit, leading to insufficient planning. They claimed that a proper risk assessment wasn’t conducted before the event was approved for an outdoor setting, and there was no comprehensive security plan in place.
Moreover, it was noted that only six officers were assigned to an event that attracted thousands of participants, despite requests for more security personnel. This lack of oversight allegedly included failing to monitor the event in real time.
The claim referenced surveillance footage presented during the hearings of the alleged assassin, showing someone moving on the rooftops, which some considered a “sniper’s pad.” They contend that real-time monitoring of this footage could have prevented Kirk’s tragic death.
Kirk was shot while addressing an audience at an outdoor gathering on September 10, 2025, when a gunman opened fire from a building’s rooftop.
The Kirk family’s Notice of Claim lists specific failures by the UVU parties, including their lack of preparation for Kirk’s visit, insufficient security for such a large gathering, not exercising their authority to protect him, and ignoring the risks related to rooftop access.
Those listed in the claim as potential plaintiffs include Charlie Kirk, the Estate of Charles Kirk, his heirs, and family members such as his parents.
