Witness: Security Was Light at Site of Charlie Kirk Shooting

Former GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz describes a modest police presence
Posted Sep 10, 2025 2:50 PM CDT
Updated Sep 10, 2025 3:13 PM CDT
Witness: No Metal Detectors at Site of Charlie Kirk Shooting
Law enforcement tapes off an area after Charlie Kirk was shot at the Utah Valley University, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah.   (Tess Croewley/The Deseret News via AP)

Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was shot Wednesday afternoon at an event he was hosting at Utah Valley University—the state's largest public university, with more than 46,000 students—and attendee Justin Hickens tells NBC News there were no metal detectors to get into the event though Kirk had his own security. Former GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz was at the event and told Fox News there was a light police presence. "Utah is one of the safest places on the planet," he said. "And so we just don't have these types of things." Hours after the shooting, President Trump said Kirk had died.

A suspect was originally believed to be in custody, but the New York Times reports police determined the person they initially detained was not actually the shooter, per a university rep. The university initially said a suspect was in custody, and videos showed an elderly man being arrested. This story has been updated to note a suspect is not currently in custody.

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