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Charlie Kirk’s family has taken the next legal step to hold someone — anyone — accountable for the security failures that let a rooftop sniper kill him at a Utah Valley University event. They filed a formal notice of claim that preserves the right to sue UVU, the UVU Police Department and state actors. The notice is loud, direct and full of things campus officials will now have to answer for under oath.
Family files notice of claim — what that means
The notice of claim, dated Sept. 9 and sent to the Utah Attorney General’s Office, is not a lawsuit yet. Under Utah’s Governmental Immunity Act, it’s a required step to preserve the right to sue government entities. But make no mistake: it signals the family is serious about litigation that could hold Utah Valley University, the UVU Police Department, Chief Jeffrey Long, former President Astrid Tuminez and others to account.
Allegations: rooftop access, understaffing and the “I got you covered” text
The filing paints a picture every parent would dread. It alleges Turning Point USA warned UVU campus police that students could reach rooftops near the outdoor stage and asked UVU to secure those rooftops or let TPUSA put a security person there. The notice quotes an alleged reply from the UVU police chief saying, “I got you covered.” The family says UVU then failed to lock roofs, understaffed the event (about 3,000 people attended and UVU had six officers onsite), did not perform a meaningful risk assessment, and failed to monitor CCTV in real time.
Allegations vs. proof — the difference matters
These are serious allegations. The criminal case against the accused, Tyler Robinson, continues on a separate track — prosecutors have charged him with aggravated murder and other counts. But civil law asks different questions: Was the university reckless or negligent? Did its actions or inaction proximately cause the death? Those are the battles that follow a notice of claim. The family will need to prove causation; UVU will raise immunity defenses. That’s how government litigation usually plays out. Expect a fight over jurisdiction, statutory defenses and whether the university’s independent review ever saw the light of day.
Why this matters and what to watch next
Beyond legal technicalities, this is about public safety on college campuses. If the notice is true, UVU’s leadership failed a basic duty: protect people on its property. President Jon Anderson and Chief Jeffrey Long say an independent review is underway. The public — and Charlie Kirk’s family — deserve to see that report and the communications that led to the event plan. Watch for whether the family files a full lawsuit after the notice period, what the review finds about rooftop access and CCTV, and how the Utah Attorney General’s Office responds. Until then, “I got you covered” sounds less like reassurance and more like an ominous punchline.
