In a typically bizarre twist of bureaucratic ineptitude, the family of the late Charlie Kirk is taking legal action against Utah Valley University. Just over a year ago, the family of the well-known conservative figure experienced a devastating loss during a Turning Point USA event gone horribly wrong. The Kirs are now filing a notice of claim against the university and those responsible for what must have been a perplexingly negligent security detail.
It seems that the officials at Utah Valley University and their campus police had the equivalent of butterfingers when it came to securing the event. The family alleges they were warned people could access the roof of the Sorenson Center, which conveniently overlooked the quad where Charlie was scheduled to speak. Preferring to dance around responsibility like it’s an art form, the UVU police chief confidently promised via text message that they had it “covered.” One has to wonder if his definition of “covered” is merely a figment of his imagination since evidence suggests otherwise.
Security at the event seemed more like a sketch from a comedy skit than a real plan. Surveillance video captured that day reveals an alleged assassin taking his sweet time sauntering across rooftops before setting up his position. The Turning Point organizers had an understanding that the campus police would diligently watch over all nearby buildings. However, this understanding seems to have been misunderstood, misplaced, or just plain invisible.
Adding insult to injury, the Kirks’ legal team points out some glaring gaps in security that are almost too ludicrous to be real. For an event hosting around 3,000 people, which sounds a tad crowded, campus police might as well have employed the honor system. With only six officers assigned to the event, it’s a wonder security wasn’t outsourced to the janitorial staff.
In a situation where common sense took a serene holiday, there were no written security plans or briefings before the event. The powers that be failed to monitor surveillance cameras in real time, which could have flagged the gunman’s move as suspicious. As the Kirks pursue justice, one can only hope that lessons have been learned about how to actually “have things covered” in every sense of the word.
