Charlie Kirk's family filed a notice of claim on Sept. 9 against Utah officials, blaming lax security for his death. The filing argues that specific warnings about roof access were ignored by university police. This legal step blames the state for leaving him helpless to a rooftop shooter.
According to the Daily Wire, the notice names the State of Utah, Utah Valley University, and police chief Jeffrey Long. It claims these parties created a "foreseeable danger" through a series of stunning failures. Kirk was shot on Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking to a crowd of roughly 3,000 people. The shooter fired from a nearby rooftop and killed him instantly.
Brett Parkinson, counsel for the Kirk family, told the Daily Wire that the murder was "entirely preventable." He stated that the tragedy would not have happened if officials followed their own security promises. The notice details how Turning Point USA warned police about accessible student roof access.
When a TPUSA official asked police chief Jeffrey Long if the area could be secured, Long replied, "I got you covered." The Daily Wire reports that Long did not actually secure the roof despite this assurance. The shooter later climbed onto that exact rooftop and fired the fatal shot. The FBI has released video showing the suspect climbing onto the roof before the shooting.
The filing indicates the event occurred while political violence reached a fever pitch. It highlights that President Trump was shot by a rooftop sniper during the 2024 campaign. Another would-be assassin was intercepted on a golf course just two months later. In this dangerous climate, the university chose to host the tour without proper protection.
Per reports, the claim alleges that only six campus police officers were assigned to the outdoor event. This small number was used despite requests for additional officers to handle the crowd. The notice claims these failures ultimately rendered Mr. Kirk helpless to the rooftop shooter and states that the assassination could have been avoided with reasonable planning.
This notice is not a lawsuit yet, but it preserves the family's right to sue. The filing states the negligence not only robbed Charlie Kirk of his life but also robbed his family of their husband, father, son, and brother. These impacts will compound for the rest of their lives, according to the legal document. The family is seeking justice and accountability under the law.
As the filing notes, justice and accountability under the law are key tenets of the American judicial system.