Were there no metal detectors at the venue where Charlie Kirk was killed? UVU's security measures under scrutiny after activist's assassination

Politicon 2018 - Day 1 - Source: Getty
Charlie Kirk speaking at Politicon 2018 (Image via Getty Images)

Utah Valley University's security measures are under scrutiny after the assassination of Charlie Kirk on the campus premises on September 10, 2025. Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, became the victim of a fatal shooting while addressing approximately 3000 people at UVU. The Utah university was his first stop on his nationwide college tour, The American Comeback Tour.

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The event was held outdoors in the university quad, surrounded by buildings. According to ABC News, authorities state that the alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was stationed on the roof of one of the surrounding buildings. The shooter reportedly fired a single shot from a high-powered bolt-action rifle, hitting Charlie Kirk in the throat.

The attack has spurred conversation about the security measures in place at the event in UVU, with questions about the lack of bag checking and the absence of metal detectors. In an email to FOX 13 News on September 11, 2025, UVU spokesman Scott Trotter confirmed that the campus did not have metal detectors, writing:

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“UVU’s Police Department discussed the security with the Kirk security team before the event, and the analysis was that there were no credible threats. UVU is an open campus; no metal detectors were set up. It was in an open courtyard.”

Furthermore, Jeff Long, the chief of UVU's campus police department, gave more details about the security measures at the event on September 10.

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In a subsequent press conference, Long added that the police coordinated with Charlie Kirk's security team to establish emergency and security protocols, adding that there were six campus police officers in the crowd.

"He has his team and they do this all over the country. We all know that. It's not uncommon for them. They're very comfortable on campuses. And I was coordinating with his lead security guy...We train for these things, and you think you have things covered, and these things, unfortunately, they happen. You try to get your bases covered and, unfortunately, today [Wednesday] we didn't. Because of that, we have this tragic incident," he said.
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Eyewitnesses told ABC News that no one was stationed at the event's entrance to check for IDs or pat them down as a precautionary method, adding that they were able to walk in without passing through a security checkpoint. Additionally, the event was reportedly open to the general public in addition to university students.


Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter to appear in court on September 16

Tyler Robinson, Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter, is scheduled to appear in front of a state court on September 16, 2025. According to CNN, the 22-year-old was arrested by authorities on September 11 and is currently held at Utah County Jail without bail on charges of "aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice."

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Speaking with NBC News over the weekend, Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that Robinson was allegedly not "cooperating" with the authorities. Additionally, Cox alleged that the suspect became influenced by the “dark corners of the internet," continuing:

“Clearly, there was a lot of gaming going on, friends that have confirmed that there was kind of that deep, dark internet, Reddit culture and these other dark places of the internet where this person was going deep. You saw that on the casings … the meme-ification that is happening in our society today."
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For context, police stated that the unused bullet casings found in the rifle presumably used to shoot Charlie Kirk were inscribed with the phrases "Hey, fascist! Catch!”, “If you read this, you are gay LMAO" and "Notices bulges OwO what’s this?”

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In other news, VP JD Vance is scheduled to host Charlie Kirk's podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, at 12 pm ET on September 15, 2025, to pay tribute to his late friend.

Edited by Juhi Marzia
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