Kirk Courtyard: TPUSA Picked the Venue, but UVU got Blamed for the Security Failures
The newly released Utah Valley University after-action report is raising serious questions about the established narrative surrounding the security failures before Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Dave Hodges, the longtime podcaster and host of the Common Sense Show, has closely followed the assassination and subsequent investigations. He can break down the report’s findings and the contradictions they reveal.
Common Sense Show Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCommonSenseShowProgram
- UVU report challenges the established narrative surrounding Kirk’s assassination
- TPUSA specifically requested the courtyard despite UVU security concerns
- UVU was told 600 attendees; more than 3,000 ultimately arrived
- TPUSA declined an ambulance, checking “No” for EMS. UVU still provided two paramedics with trauma packs
- Key TPUSA security officials declined requests to participate in investigation
The report directly disputes the claim that UVU selected the outdoor Fountain Courtyard and forced TPUSA to hold the event there. According to the review, a TPUSA field representative specifically requested the courtyard on July 10, 2025, for September 10, while being “quite vague” about what the event was. At an August 25 planning meeting, UVU raised concerns and suggested alternatives, but TPUSA representative Maycee Crofts insisted on keeping the courtyard.
The report also puts the controversial “I got you covered” exchange between UVU Police Chief Jeff Long and TPUSA security supervisor Dan Flood in a very different context. The review indicates Long was addressing the Hall of Flags walkway above and behind Kirk, not the Losee Center roof where the shooter was ultimately positioned. UVU actually assigned officers to that walkway.
Attendance planning presents another major discrepancy. UVU was told to expect approximately 600 attendees; more than 3,000 ultimately arrived. TPUSA insisted on handling its own ticketing, limiting UVU’s ability to accurately gauge attendance and staff accordingly. The report also says TPUSA indicated EMS would not be needed. Nevertheless, UVU provided two paramedics equipped with trauma packs.
Perhaps most striking, the review repeatedly sought interviews with Harpole, Flood and Crofts, but none responded. Their accounts therefore were not available to the investigators for clarification.
And after Kirk was shot, George Zinn’s actions further complicated the police response, as officers were diverted when he dropped his pants and shouted that he had carried out the assassination.
Dave can examine what the UVU report actually documents, what remains unexplained, and whether the public narrative has placed disproportionate responsibility on UVU while leaving important TPUSA decisions and unanswered questions largely unexplored.
Relevant Article(s):
UVU After Action Report: after-action-report.pdf
OPTIONAL Q&A:
- What does the UVU report reveal about who actually selected the courtyard location?
- What did Jeff Long mean when he told security, “I got you covered”?
- How did TPUSA’s 600-person estimate affect UVU’s security planning?
- Why did TPUSA insist on controlling ticketing for the event?
- Why did TPUSA specifically decline having an ambulance stationed at the event?
- Why weren’t Kirk’s injuries treated by the two UVU paramedics?
- What questions remain unanswered because Harpole, Flood and Crofts declined interviews?
- Does the UVU report fundamentally challenge the public narrative about Kirk’s security?
ABOUT DAVE HODGES…
Dave Hodges is a Christian conservative Journalist. He is also the host of The Common Sense Show Podcast. Hodges is a former college basketball coach, teacher and professor of psychology as well as a mental health practitioner. He believes nothing we’ve been told about the Charlie Kirk murder is factual.
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