Charlie Kirk assassination leads to defamation suit and security review

A federal lawsuit has been filed against podcaster Candace Owens by Robert Hild, a witness to the September 2025 assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The complaint alleges that Owens targeted Hild with verbal attacks and death threats by falsely claiming he was involved in the killing and had ties to malicious foreign actors. This follows a separate defamation suit filed in April by Kirk’s private security head.

Concurrently, an external review of Utah Valley University revealed significant security deficiencies surrounding the event. The report found that the university failed to conduct a formal security assessment or create a written action plan, instead deferring critical decision-making to Turning Point USA. Kirk was killed by a sniper from a rooftop during an outdoor event in Orem, Utah.

Tyler Robinson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder in connection with the shooting. Prosecutors cited text messages from the defendant expressing motives related to Kirk’s rhetoric. The assassination is being viewed as a significant moment within a broader trend of political violence in the United States.