Security Chief Reveals Troubling Gaps Before Charlie Kirk’s UVU Tragedy

The head of Charlie Kirk’s security team is sharing new details about the concerns he raised before the tragic shooting that took Kirk’s life during an event at Utah Valley University in September.

Brian Harpole appeared on the Shawn Ryan Show, where he talked openly about the limited private security available that day and the conversations he had with UVU police leading up to the event. According to Harpole, his team flagged rooftop vulnerabilities well before the shooting happened.

He said he told officers that the elevated areas around the venue worried him and that the layout created blind spots his private team was not equipped to monitor.

“We had concerns about the rooftops. We were put in a location we weren’t comfortable with. We know where our authority begins and ends,” Harpole said during the interview.
Harpole explained that he wanted to use drones to help monitor the area, but private security is not allowed to fly drones so close to Provo Airport. UVU police could have used drones, but they did not have any available.

He also questioned why Orem police were never asked to help, pointing out that the agencies have a mutual aid agreement. Orem officers, he said, could have provided additional tools, including those drones.

During the podcast, Harpole read a text conversation he had with UVU’s police chief on the day of the event. The message focused on the Sorenson Student Center roof, which sits directly across from where Kirk had been scheduled to speak.
“I was told students have access above us. If that’s true, it would be better to control the access or let one of my guys monitor it,” Harpole recalled texting. He said the chief responded by saying, “I’ve got you covered.”

The area Harpole was worried about may have been blocked off, but the roof behind it was not secured. That is where the shooter eventually positioned himself.
Harpole said his team arranged their ground coverage based on the assumption that the rooftops were being monitored. He also described how the shooter managed to reach and exit the spot without being seen. The position on the Loosee Center roof required the shooter to stand in a very small area, and Harpole believes the timing and movement involved were likely practiced beforehand.

Harpole also shared that he had once talked with Kirk about the risks of outdoor events and the increased need for security. Even so, he said Kirk preferred open gatherings.
According to Harpole, Kirk told him that strict security measures, ticketing and barriers keep opposing viewpoints away, which limits public dialogue. Kirk believed open events created more opportunities for conversation, which he viewed as essential for reducing division.

UVU said it is now seeking an independent expert to conduct a full review of the shooting. The university stated that it plans to update its security procedures based on the findings.

The school also confirmed it is in the process of hiring eight additional campus police officers and two new security managers to strengthen safety at future events.

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