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Charlie Kirk’s security chief says police promise to cover rooftops failed before assassination

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Charlie Kirk’s security chief says police promise to cover rooftops failed before assassination

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Two months after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University, his security director said the tragedy exposed preventable flaws in how the event was coordinated and secured.

Brian Harpole, a veteran law enforcement officer and founder of Integrity Security Solutions, told “The Shawn Ryan Show” his team repeatedly raised concerns about rooftop exposure, drone restrictions and staffing gaps in the days before the Sept. 10 event.

“We were told the roof was covered,” Harpole said. “The chief said, ‘I got you covered.’ I took him at his word.

“We can’t break the law to do what needs to be done, so we relied on the police, and no one was up there.”

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CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION WITNESSES DESCRIBE MINIMAL SECURITY, HORRIFYING SHOOTING

Investigators search a taped-off area in Orem, Utah, Sept. 11, 2025. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

Harpole said he had asked for additional security based on previous high-risk events. He recalled a Turning Point USA appearance in San Francisco where protesters breached barriers, and his team had to fight its way out with little law enforcement help.

“We’ve seen it before,” he said. “In San Francisco, we had a street takeover, people climbing fences, our exit routes compromised. We knew how fast things can go bad.”

Those experiences, he said, shaped his requests for extra officers and aerial support in Utah.

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“We told them this one was open air, surrounded by elevated ground. We needed more eyes, more coverage. But we were told it would be handled.”

CHARLIE KIRK’S KILLING AT UTAH UNIVERSITY PROMPTS SCRUTINY OF SECURITY MEASURES

The scene after shots were fired at an appearance by Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking on his American Comeback Tour when he was shot in the neck and killed.   (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Harpole said Integrity brought 12 contractors, nearly double its usual staffing, but jurisdictional limits confined them to about 30 meters around the stage.

“Our responsibility stopped at the bubble,” he said. “We can’t make arrests or block student buildings. That’s law enforcement’s job.”

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He said the Orem Police Department, which operates a drone and SWAT unit, was never asked to assist despite a mutual-aid agreement.

“They told us later they were never asked to come,” Harpole said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Orem Police Department for comment.

TURNING POINT USA SAYS SECURITY LACKED JURISDICTION TO MONITOR ROOFTOP WHEN CHARLIE KIRK WAS ASSASSINATED

Harpole said he specifically flagged student stairways leading to rooftops that offered a clear line of sight to the stage.

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“Three meters to the right or 10 to the left and there is no shot. That’s how precise the angle was,” he said.

He said his team prepared to deploy drones for watch over the event but was denied authorization under FAA and campus restrictions.

“This is Utah, not Iraq,” Harpole said. “We couldn’t put snipers on roofs or launch drones. We did what we could within the rules.”

SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES OVER SECURITY LAPSES SURROUNDING THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING

UVU students pause to reflect as they gaze over the spot where Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Orem, Utah, Sept. 17, 2025. (Matthew Finn/Fox News)

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Harpole said Integrity coordinated with UVU for nearly two weeks and relied on campus police for rooftops and overwatch due to jurisdictional limits. He said promised coverage wasn’t in place.

“This was a textbook example of what happens when lines of authority aren’t clear,” he said. “We couldn’t act outside our jurisdiction, and the people who could didn’t.”

He added that Integrity’s 12-member detail “built concentric zones and double presidential-style barricades and used vehicles as hard barriers behind the stage,” but those measures couldn’t compensate for gaps in police coverage.

The Utah Department of Public Safety confirmed that its State Bureau of Investigation is leading the criminal inquiry alongside the Utah County Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors have charged Tyler James Robinson, 22, with capital murder in the shooting and intend to seek the death penalty.

ONE MONTH AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER, KEY QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED

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Tyler Robinson, left, and Charlie Kirk  (Utah State Courts/Handout, Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via Reuters.)

UVU officials have said an internal review of the shooting and security procedures is ongoing.

“The comprehensive and independent third-party analysis will be made public once complete and will provide valuable insights into improving safety and security on college campuses,” the university said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital by a firm representing UVU. “UVU is committed to integrating these findings into its safety protocols to benefit UVU and the broader Utah higher education community and campus events.”

The university also emphasized the role of its police officers and new safety investments.

“University police officers play a vital role in maintaining a safe, secure and welcoming environment by enforcing local, state and federal laws while upholding the university’s values of respect, integrity and inclusion,” the statement continued. “Officers protect students, employees, visitors and property and take a proactive approach to crime prevention, education and community engagement.”

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First responders work where Charlie Kirk was shot during an event at Utah Valley University Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah.  (George Frey)

UVU said it is hiring eight additional police officers and two new security managers to strengthen oversight and support for campus events.

Harpole said his decision to speak publicly was about ensuring lessons are learned from what happened at Utah Valley.

“Just show the facts,” he said. “If mistakes were made, fix them so it never happens again.”

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UVU officials said their ongoing third-party review will guide new safety policies and staffing expansion aimed at strengthening campus event security across Utah’s higher education system.

Fox News Digital reached out to Turning Point USA and Integrity Security Solutions for comment.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.

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New Mexico

Lincoln County’s Rex Wilson named to fill vacant New Mexico Senate seat – Carlsbad Current-Argus

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Lincoln County’s Rex Wilson named to fill vacant New Mexico Senate seat – Carlsbad Current-Argus


Staff report Former Lincoln County Commissioner Rex Wilson was appointed Wednesday, Jan. 7, to fill the District 33 state Senate seat vacated by the resignation…



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Oregon

5 things to know about Oregon’s newest reciever Iverson Hooks from UAB

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5 things to know about Oregon’s newest reciever Iverson Hooks from UAB


The Oregon Ducks lost a handful of players on Sunday to the transfer portal, but Dan Lanning and his staff are slowly building the 2026 roster back up, including a new target at wide receiver that could be a reminder of another slot receiver who wore the green and yellow.

Former Alabama-Birmingham receiver Iverson Hooks has committed to come out to the West Coast and play for the Ducks. Hooks was a go-to guy for the Blazers this season, and it will be difficult for UAB to replace him immediately. But UAB’s loss is definitely Oregon’s gain.

He was one of the better players in the American Conference in 2025, and it will be interesting to see how Hooks performs against tougher competition in the Big Ten. It’ll also be interesting to see how he fits into the Oregon roster and what looks to be yet another deep receivers room in Eugene.

American Conference Honors

Hooks earned Second-Team All-American Conference honors for the Blazers. He caught 72 passes for 972 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. For his career, Hooks has 97 catches for 1,225 yards and 10 touchdowns.

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The Tez Johnson/Gary Bryant Jr. Role

At just 5-foot-10 and a mere 175 pounds, Hooks is a similar player to former Duck slot receiver Tez Johnson, who also came from a Group of 5 league at Troy. He turned out to be pretty good, and there’s no reason to think Hooks won’t be either. The Ducks have had a history of making certain slot receivers into stars, such as Johnson and, most recently, Gary Bryant, Jr. Expect Hooks to pencil in at the slot and find his role there.

The WR Room Gets Deeper

Hooks should probably start in 2026 for the Ducks, but there’s no guarantee of that, as Oregon will bring back one of the more talented receiver rooms in the country. They’ll miss the likes of Bryant and Malik Benson, but Evan Stewart could be back, along with Dakorien Moore and Jeremiah McClellan. They also add Gatlin Bair fresh off of his mission, and have high-upside guys like Jalen Lott and Dillon Gresham looking for targets as well.

Remaining Eligibility

Due to an injury just three games into his redshirt freshman season in 2023, Hooks will have two years of eligibility remaining, just as Tez Johnson did when he left Troy for Eugene. Johnson made a huge jump from his junior to senior season, and the Ducks are hoping Hooks can make a similar jump as well.

Top 25 WR out of the portal

While Hooks isn’t a huge name on the market, as On3 rated him the No. 24 receiver in the portal, he doesn’t need to duplicate his numbers of 2025 to be successful for the Ducks. Oregon has plenty of playmakers on the roster and if Hooks can fill that role of being a slot receiver, make first downs, and be an occasional deep-ball threat, that should be more than good enough for the Ducks next season.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

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Utah

Utah State Ranked No. 23 in Men’s Basketball Poll

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Courtesy of Utah State Athletics

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men’s basketball is ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll for the first time of the 2025-26 season, checking in at No. 23 with 161 points in the poll. This is the third-straight year the Aggies have been ranked in the AP Poll, the first time in program history that has happened.

Currently sitting at 14-1 overall and an unbeaten 5-0 in Mountain West play, Utah State is the lone ranked team from the league, and is one of just two teams from mid-major leagues ranked this week, along with future Pac-12 mate Gonzaga (No. 9).

The Aggies also made their season debut in the USA Today Coaches Poll, checking in at No. 24. In today’s NET Rankings, Utah State ranks No. 12. USU has received votes in seven of the past eight AP Polls this season.

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Utah State spent two weeks ranked last season, peaking at No. 22. In 2023-24, the Aggies were ranked for nine weeks and climbed as high as No. 16 in the poll.

UP NEXT
Utah State will return to Logan next week to host Nevada on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season have sold out. Fans can purchase single game tickets for available remaining games here. A waitlist for 2026-27 season tickets is now available here.

FOLLOW
For more information on Utah State’s men’s basketball program, follow the Aggies on Facebook at usumensbasketball, on Twitter at @usubasketball and on Instagram at @usubasketball. Fans can also watch USU men’s basketball highlights by visiting youtube.com/utahstateathletics.

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