Charlie Kirk’s family filed a wrongful death notice Wednesday, alleging officials at Utah Valley University failed to prevent his assassination just over a year ago.
Attorneys for the family said a series of “reckless decisions” left Kirk exposed to a rooftop sniper, who shot and killed him on Sept. 10, 2025, during an event at the university.
The filing could pave the way for a lawsuit.
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The new filing
The wrongful death notice is dated Sept. 9, one day before the first anniversary of Kirk’s death. It’s a step the family is required to take under state law before filing a formal claim or lawsuit.
The filing names the university, its then-president, the campus police department and its chief, and the state of Utah.
“The risk of a rooftop shooter should have been especially top-of-mind given the attempted assassination of President Trump, Charlie Kirk’s close friend and political ally, by a rooftop shooter the previous year,” Kirk family attorney D. Loren Washburn wrote in the notice.
The notice alleges officials did not conduct an adequate risk assessment before approving Kirk’s event. The family also claims officials failed to establish a security perimeter or have first responders immediately available, requiring Kirk to be taken to a local hospital in a private vehicle rather than an ambulance.
“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.
Utah Valley University responds
In a statement to The Associated Press, Utah Valley University said it was aware of the notice and would address it through its established processes.
“Our focus remains on supporting our campus community,” a spokesperson said.
The university police department previously said it was expanding its police force in the wake of the shooting.
The Utah Attorney General’s Office told the AP it does not comment on potential litigation.
The latest on Kirk’s alleged killer
The case against the man accused of killing Kirk can move forward, a judge ruled earlier this month.
Utah District Judge Tony Graf said there is enough evidence to “support a reasonable belief” that 23-year-old Tyler Robinson shot and killed Kirk while he was speaking to a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University.
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