Tragedy struck Utah Valley University (UVU) with the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), during a campus event, raising serious questions about security failures.
The heartbreaking incident unfolded on Sept. 10 when Kirk was fatally shot while debating attendees at a TPUSA event, only to be followed by stunning revelations of ignored warnings from his security team, the Daily Caller reported.
Days before the tragedy, on Sept. 8, Brian Harpole of Integrity Security Solutions, who led Kirk’s security detail, flagged a critical vulnerability to UVU Police Chief Long.
Harpole specifically warned about student access to a rooftop near the event location at the Sorenson Center building, a spot disturbingly close to where Kirk would be speaking.
He urged either restricted access to the roof or permission for one of his team members to stand guard there, a reasonable request for any high-profile event.
Chief Long’s response, according to Harpole, was a casual assurance of “I got you covered,” a promise that now rings hollow in the wake of disaster.
On the day of the event, the alleged assassin exploited that very rooftop access Harpole had flagged, using it as a vantage point for the attack before escaping by dropping off the roof.
Video footage captured the suspect’s daring getaway, a chilling reminder of how preventable this might have been with basic precautions.
Authorities moved quickly after the shooting, arresting 22-year-old Tyler Robinson early on Sept. 12, accusing him of the fatal attack on Kirk.
Harpole’s frustration with UVU’s police response is palpable, as he shared correspondence with Chief Long that seems to show a tragic dismissal of legitimate concerns.
“On Monday before, this correspondence went to Chief Long. ‘Hello, Chief Long. We received this message today from the student group. There is a student roof access pretty close to where CK will be set up at the Utah Valley,’” Harpole recounted, painting a picture of proactive concern met with inaction.
“He comes back and his last correspondence was, ‘I got you covered.’ What else am I to do when a command level person from an accredited police department says, ‘I’ve got this area’?” Harpole added, a question that cuts to the heart of this preventable loss.
Shawn Ryan, reacting to Harpole’s revelations, couldn’t hide his shock, exclaiming, “Holy shit,” a sentiment many share as the details emerge.
UVU has remained silent, offering no immediate comment when reached by the Daily Caller News Foundation, leaving the public to wonder if accountability will ever surface. Isn’t it time for institutions to prioritize safety over optics, especially when conservative voices like Kirk’s are so often targeted in today’s hyper-polarized climate?
The assassination of Charlie Kirk isn’t just a loss for TPUSA; it’s a stark warning about the dangers of complacency in securing public events. If a simple post at a stairwell, as Harpole suggested, could have saved a life, why wasn’t it done? This tragedy demands answers, not excuses, and conservatives across the nation are watching to see if justice—and change—will follow.
