Charlie Kirk's family alleges in legal filing that college's security lapses led to wrongful death

The family of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk filed a notice of claim, which is an initial step in a lawsuit, against Utah Valley University, the state of Utah, and key individuals involved in campus leadership and security decisions, alleging that their failures led to Kirk's wrongful death. 

Among the accusations in the filing is that UVU knew that rooftop access was a security risk, and that the building from where Kirk's alleged killer fired a shot from was "pretty close" to where the conservative activist would be speaking, Fox News reported. 

"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," the filing states. 

Turning Point USA organizers told UVU Police Chief Jeffrey Long that UVU students had informed them of rooftop access to the Sorenson Center, which was close to where Kirk was to speak. TPUSA wrote to the chief to request controlled access to the roof, and Long assured the person communicating the concern that "I got you covered," according to the filing. 

The prospective plaintiffs in the filing, which does not specify monetary damages, are Erika Kirk, Kirk's widow, and their two juvenile children. The filing also acknowledges potential claims from his parents, Robert and Kathryn. In addition to the wrongful death claim, the filing raises a claim of "state-created danger" under the U.S. Constitution.