A chilling exchange of text messages has surfaced, revealing a critical breakdown in security protocols before the shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Brian Harpole, Kirk’s head of security, publicly shared the messages with UVU Police Chief Jeff Long, detailing concerns about unsecured rooftop access near the event location.
Days before the September 10th event, Harpole alerted Chief Long to reports that students had access to rooftops and walkways overlooking the speaking area. He requested either a lockdown of the roof or the placement of his own security personnel there, seeking a clear assurance of safety.
Chief Long’s response was stark and unambiguous: “I got you covered.” However, the subsequent fallout reveals a devastating lack of clarity and follow-through. The simple phrase, intended to instill confidence, ultimately masked a critical failure in security coordination.
Harpole admits he did not press for specifics, assuming “covered” meant law enforcement would secure the rooftops. Crucially, the text exchange contains no explicit commitment from the UVU police to actually patrol or restrict access to those vulnerable areas. This ambiguity would prove tragically consequential.
According to Harpole, no UVU personnel were ever stationed on the rooftops during the event. The promised security simply never materialized, leaving a fatal vulnerability exploited by the gunman. He expressed frustration that the chief has not taken responsibility for the lapse.
The security failures extended beyond the rooftops. Harpole detailed a lack of crucial support from both UVU and the Orem Police Department, including a failure to deploy pre-planned drone overwatch or rooftop sniper coverage. These resources, discussed in pre-event planning meetings, remained unused.
Despite the presence of local law enforcement drone units, they were never deployed because UVU failed to request their assistance. Harpole’s private security team was also hampered, legally restricted from launching their own drones due to airspace regulations.
The shooting itself was carried out with a single, devastating round fired from a scoped Mauser Model 98 rifle. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested and faces the death penalty in connection with the murder, described as having certain political and personal affiliations.
The unfolding details paint a disturbing picture of miscommunication, unfulfilled promises, and ultimately, a catastrophic failure to protect a public figure. The question now looms large: who bears responsibility for the security lapses that allowed this tragedy to occur?
