Review Finds Major Security Failures at Utah Valley University

A review commissioned and released by Utah Valley University found that the school lacked a comprehensive written security assessment and event action plan for the outdoor event where Charlie Kirk was killed, and that its planning was significantly inconsistent with university policies for major events. The Lake Forest Group’s 158-page report also says university officials raised concerns about the courtyard, while a Turning Point USA representative pressed to hold the event there. The review examined security preparations for Kirk’s September 10, 2025, appearance on the university’s campus in Orem, Utah. It describes the venue and ticketing decisions as consequential, saying the courtyard was harder to control and the organization’s ticketing system limited the university’s ability to estimate attendance reliably. The report says university officials suggested alternative locations before ultimately allowing the courtyard event to proceed. According to the review, the planning process did not include a documented line-of-sight assessment, a formal event action plan or a pre-event briefing and walkthrough involving key security personnel.